Originally published to the Chillicothe Gazette on May 18, 2025.

When I was a kid, school was just okay. I did not love it. Thankfully, most things (except math) came easy to me, but I was not busting out the door in the morning to get there. Most times, I looked forward to talking to my friends (or anyone near me who would listen) and then trying to keep myself from having to stand on the wall at recess for talking to my friends and anyone near me who would listen. I also looked forward to lunch.

However, on occasion, there was a magical thing that happened. I’d round a corner after recess and, like a mirage rising from the dunes of a desert, there were ladies setting up temporary shelving in the hallway. It could only mean one thing, Book Fair! For anyone who had the pleasure of attending a late eighties early nineties book fair, you know this excitement. So many books, toys, and bookmarks! It was incredible. The idea that I, an elementary student, could peruse the temporary shelving and choose whatever book I’d like was empowering. Journal with writing prompts? Yes. The Berenstain Bears Get the Gimmies? Give me, please! A slap bracelet? Please and thank you.
It was the best. It also taught me about budgeting in a way that actually made sense.

You can still find book fairs in halls or converted classrooms to this day, but online ordering seems to have stolen some of the wonder. Back then, there was no ordering online. It was a one-day sale, truly. If you missed it, you missed out.

This year, the library is hosting a Throwback Book Fair for adults to celebrate the start of Bookworm season! Join us on Friday, June 6th from 6:30-8:00pm at the Main Library for Book Fair-themed fun. We’re going old school with a scavenger hunt, trivia, sticker station, friendship bracelets, and pizza to really recreate the vibe. While you can’t buy things with real money, there will be a shop of sorts with plenty of cool things to take home! Costumes are not necessary, but highly encouraged, so come dressed in the style of your favorite Book Fair era!

For the kiddos, we’ll be hosting a grand Kickoff party at Northside Branch earlier that week. On Wednesday, June 4th from 5-6:30pm, bring the whole family and enjoy snow cones, face painting, and a mini show from The Cincinnati Circus!

For those who may be new to Bookworm, our summer reading program is free to join for ALL ages (early registration begins May 19th and logging starts on June 2nd), you can read whatever you like, earn prizes, and party down all summer! Our Youth and Adult Services Staff have planned some incredible programming like a Superhero Training Academy, Free Pool Day at the City Pool, and presenters like Science Heroes, the Caravan, and Mark Berman aka BUGMAN!

No matter what or how you like to read (audiobooks and reading to your children absolutely count), join us at the library for a summer of fun you won’t soon forget!

Sheena Brown is an avid reader and Enrichment, Communications, and Marketing Clerk at the Chillicothe and Ross County Public Library.