Repulse Bay (Dec 13/06) - The annual Tusarvik Book Fair in Repulse Bay was a rousing success earlier this month, says teacher Jeremy Chippett.

Organized by Jennifer Perry, the fair gives the school the opportunity to promote literacy, provide some fun activities for the students and do a little fundraising at the same time.

D-Von Siusangnark, Ryan Lee Taparti and Megan Siutinuar, from left, had the top drawing entries at the annual Tusarvik Book Fair in Repulse Bay earlier this month. - photo courtesy of Leonie Aissaoui

The books are supplied by Scholastics Canada for the event.

Chippett says the school received about 20 boxes of books this year, covering everything from preschool favourites to adult fare such as Dan Brown novels.

The books are shipped free of charge and the school earns a percentage from each one sold.

"This year we decided to use our percentage as credit to purchase Scholastic resources rather than keeping the money," says Chippett.

"We have some order books in the staff room and everyone's been looking through them and picking out what they'd like.

"We've got a fair amount of credit built up for getting new resources."

Chippett says the school gets good support from people in the community who drop by to purchase books.

Tusarvik ran the fair for two hours after Friday's classes, and again the next afternoon during the monthly flea market at the school.

Chippett says while the credits earned from sales are nice, the whole idea behind the fair is to promote literacy.

"We really tried to play up the literacy side of things by hanging signs to remind people that books make great Christmas gifts.

"And material was provided to hold a drawing contest leading up the fair, with each grade having a winner."

Chippett says when it comes to the most popular items at the fair during the past few years, the books take a back seat to the Kivalliq's favourite pastime.

"I wish I could say one book or another was the best seller, but that wouldn't be the truth of the matter.

"Every one of the NHL hockey posters sent to us were gone in less than an hour.

"It was the same thing at last year's fair.

"People come in and grab the hockey posters, especially Toronto and Montreal, as quick as they can."