CPS students ‘spy’ book fair success
By Ken McLemore/Hope Public Schools, 04/11/22 2:04 AMHOPE – The annual Clinton Primary School Book Fair raised funds for new book purchases by the CPS Library, but it also allowed primary grades students to “spy” a popular item that kids have loved for generations… the Spy Pen.
“The most popular item was the Spy Pen,” CPS Media Specialist Casey Schoenberger said. “We sold completely out of them on the third day of the Book Fair.”
The pens use a special “ink” which writes invisibly on paper but when exposed to direct light such as a flashlight, the written message becomes visible. Kids have used versions of the idea (lemon juice and water) for generations.
Schoenberger said the novelty items and customized school supplies such as pencils, pens, diaries, planners, bookmarks and the like sold through the Book Fair boost interest in the event which is about reading.
“We did about $10,000 in sales and the library will receive 50 percent of the profit that will be used to buy more books for the library,” she said.
Popular subjects and book themes this year included some annual favorites such as dinosaurs, pets and animals, and kid mysteries.
“It was a busy two weeks in the library and sales never slowed down,” Schoenberger said. “We also had quite a few parents come on Parent Night during Parent-Teacher Conferences.”
The annual CPS Book Fair is conducted in March in collaboration with Scholastic Books.
Clinton Primary School students recently had an opportunity to expand their reading lists, pick up some cool school supplies and learn more about the latest offerings of their favorite storytellers and authors at the annual CPS Book Fair. – Ken McLemore/Hope Public Schools
