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REPULSE BAY - Staff members at Tusarvik school in Repulse Bay are trying a slightly different approach to getting more books read in their community.

An annual book fair is held every November or December at the school, which teacher Jennifer Perry has organized the past few years.

While it's always hard for kids like Jackie Sanertanut, Natanai Qanatsiak and Josephine Uttak, left to right, to decide what to buy at Tusarvik school book fairs in Repulse Bay, Spiderman and Dora the Explorer usually top the list. - photo courtesy of Leonie Aissaoui

Perry orders the books from Scholastic Canada and the school splits the profits 50-50 with the company.

Tusarvik school earned $800 in profit from book sales to close out 2008, which Perry said is pretty impressive for a small community.

Perry said the school has been trying to encourage book reading by offering the remaining books at half price for the duration of the school year.

She said the school doesn't make a dime from the new initiative, with Scholastics Canada still having to be paid its 50 per cent.

"Our main book fair isn't just for the kids," said Perry.

"We also have a family event during which we supply snacks, have door prizes and hold activities such as making bookmarks and hosting story time.

"Families can come in with their kids, look at the books and take part in the other events.

"And, of course, the book fair is also a way to raise funds for the school while encouraging literacy at the same time."

School staff members do what they can to make literacy and language seem important to the community, and well as the students.

Perry said while some types of books sell better than others, simply getting the kids to read is often as important as what they're reading.

She said Spiderman and Dora the Explorer always sell quickly, and remain the two most popular titles with the kids.

"We hold the main book fair just before the holidays, so Christmas books are also pretty popular during that time of year.

"We don't make any profit by selling the remaining books at half price, but the kids and parents benefit by the reduced cost.

"However, there's lots of good things to buy at the flea markets and books are not always at the top of the priority list.

"I'm an English teacher so I always try to get my students to buy a novel, but it doesn't usually happen."