by Daniel Hutton (Posted on October 27, 2026 @ 3:02 p.m.)

The annual book fair returned to Alamo Heights Junior School from Sept. 16-20, giving students the opportunity to explore hundreds of books, discover new genres and purchase titles to add to their personal collections.

For five days, the school library was transformed into a marketplace featuring a variety of books for middle school students. The selection included graphic novels, cookbooks, science books and other titles designed to appeal to different reading interests.

The event gave students an opportunity to explore unfamiliar genres, discover new authors and find books they might not normally choose. Displays and tables organized by genre helped students navigate the selection and locate books that interested them.

School librarian Ms. Chasse organized the books into separate sections to make browsing easier for students. Rather than mixing different genres together, she arranged books by category throughout the library.

“We divide them by topic,” Chasse said. “So I put all the cookbooks on one table, the graphic novels on another table, and the science books on a third table.”

This organization allowed students to find their preferred genres quickly while also making it easier to explore other types of books. With limited time to browse during the school day, the separate sections helped students make the most of their visits.

Although Chasse organized the library and managed the fair locally, Scholastic determined which books would be available for purchase.

“I don’t select the books for the book fair; Scholastic sends the ones that they have chosen,” Chasse said.

Scholastic provides the books for the school’s annual fair, selecting titles intended to appeal to middle school readers. The company considers both student interests and age-appropriate content when choosing its inventory.

“Since it’s a fair aimed at middle schools, they try to send books which are suitable for middle schoolers and also of high interest to them,” Chasse said.

This approach gives students access to books that match their reading levels and interests. By offering different genres and subjects, the fair provides opportunities for students who already enjoy reading as well as those who are still discovering what kinds of books interest them.

Teachers and staff also encouraged students to explore different genres and consider books outside their usual reading preferences. The fair created opportunities for students to discuss books with classmates and share recommendations.

In addition to encouraging reading, the book fair gave students an opportunity to practice making purchasing decisions. Students shopping with a limited amount of money had to consider book prices, compare their options and decide which titles they wanted most.

These decisions can help students develop budgeting skills while allowing them to take responsibility for choosing their own reading materials. Purchasing books also gives students an opportunity to build personal libraries and continue reading outside school.

The annual event serves as another way to encourage literacy at AHJS by making books accessible in a setting where students can browse and select titles based on their individual interests.

Through its variety of books and organized displays, the fair gave students opportunities to discover new reading interests and bring home books of their own. For AHJS students, the event offered more than a chance to shop—it provided another opportunity to develop an interest in reading that can continue beyond the classroom.