Books take center stage at Gary book fair

Curious kids eyed the books spread out on tables by age group and carefully made their selections on Dec. 20 at a free book fair sponsored by Gary Teachers Union Local 4.

“One Love,” inspired by a Bob Marley song, proved popular with preschoolers and kids in grades 1-2 liked “Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur.”

Boys gravitated toward “Hair Like Obama’s Hands Like Lebron’s,” and girls liked Amanda Gorman’s picture book called “Change Sings.”

Volunteers hustled around tables to help kids pick a book to read over their holiday break during the book giveaway that began in 2021.

Gary students return to school Jan. 5.

“It started with COVID,” said Glen Eva Dunham in explaining the origin of the book fairs held across the country. She’s president of the Gary union and state president of the Indiana Federation of Teachers.

She said the American Federation of Teachers launched the book giveaway to stem learning loss and maintain literacy levels during a period as schools tried to rebound from months of remote learning.

Ashanti Hamlet, of Merrillville, came with her boys Jah’Moni, 5, and Jah’Sai Hamlet, 1. Her mom, LaTrice Williams also accompanied them.

Hamlet said she reads to her boys frequently.

Zayshaun Sprouse, 15, a student at Calumet New Tech, arrived with a busload of kids from Gary’s Trinity Baptist Church.

“I like reading more non-fiction,” he said. “I’m interested in law.”

Dunham showed him a book that stirred his interest called “Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man,” by Emmanuel Acho, a retired NFL linebacker and TV analyst.

Sprouse decided to read the book on Dunham’s recommendation.

Dunham also liked Janae Marks’ “A Split Second,” about a young teen’s adventures in unexpected time travels.

“It’s been popular,” she said.

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.