Bowler Elementary School’s annual Scholastic Book Fair was held in connection with Grandparents Day on Sept. 9.

Students were encouraged to invite their grandparents to join them for a breakfast of a variety of muffins and yogurt parfaits. After breakfast, they strolled through the area set up for the book fair, where tables and shelves held displays of books for all ages, school supplies and games. Book fair chairman Jerilyn Truman was pleased at this year’s record attendance.

The Scholastic Book Fair has been a valuable tool for school fundraising for many years. Joan Latham was the PTA president at Bowler under Principal Vee Wilson in 1987 when she suggested they merge the fair with the Grandparents Day celebration in an effort to boost sales and increase fundraising dollars. Those efforts proved successful.

PTO parent Amy Warburton said, “The Moapa Valley Schools now boast the highest gross sales in the state.”

This year’s event saw many returning families. Some students were there with their great-grandparents.

Melissa Rowland said, “This is the fourth generation in my family who have come to the book fair.” She was attending with her two great-grandchildren, Mike, a fourth grader, and Lila, in third grade. They said, “It’s fun to come with Grandma. She always buys us something we want.”

Welene Richins was in attendance with grandchild Olivia, who is in pre-K, and Jenna and Colt, both fourth graders.

She said, “There is a wide selection of books for all the grade levels. The kids love having me come and participate with them.”

Nic Bowler, who accompanied his second-grade twin granddaughters, commented that, “The idea of combining the book fair with Grandparents Day was a stroke of brilliance. It all but guarantees a boost in sales.”

First and second graders Tyson and Camille Kirk are the grandchildren of longtime resident Mindy Leavitt and great-grandchildren of Terry and Sandy Leavitt. They all enjoyed spending some fun family time together, having breakfast and choosing books to take home.

Some grandparents fondly remembered buying their own first books from the Scholastic Book Club.

Scholastic has been providing children with access to books and other resources for over 100 years, starting in 1920. They now operate in more than 135 locations around the world, providing children access to quality books and supporting teachers and students through literacy instruction, classroom magazines and educational and instructional programs.