Children authors and parents have advocated for increased exchange to ensure better reading and learning experience for their children.
Both parties made their thoughts known at the arguably first Abuja Children’s Book Fair, hosted by Rovingheights Bookstore in collaboration with Kiddies Club.
At the event, author of children’s books Never Ending Hiccup and The Menstrual Series, Raquel Kasham Daniel urged parents to not just drop off their children or leave them with their caregivers at book fairs, but spend time with them to ensure that they are engaged, and purchase books for them.
“The kids with their parents are engaged, while those with their caregivers are on their tablets, because their caregivers can’t force them to get involved. Those that have their parents are engaging more in the activities.”
On their part, parents were glad to experience the fair which not only catered to their children’s literacy needs but kept the learning process fun through various other activities like quizzes, floor and board games, talent performances, book giveaways and author-to-children read aloud sessions.
Parent and mother of 11- and 6-year-olds, Mercedes Njoku, was inspired to purchase books for her children post her conversation with the author on the inspiration and concept of the story.
“I would love to see more of the authors. Chatting with the author helped me understand the concept behind the book. I would like to speak to more authors to discover what inspired them to write their stories. That would help us parents to know what books to buy for our children.”
Lami Atta, mother of a 10- and 2-year-olds, hopes the fair becomes a quarterly event that children and parents can anticipate and integrate into their schedules.
“I know they are having fun because they have not come around me since we got here. They are having fun and learning. We (Parents) had their own fun too with the interesting games arranged for us.”
Speaking with LEADERSHIP Books & Arts, coordinator Kiddies Club and a co-founder of Rovingheights Bookstore, Adebola Eyinade said the fair is targeted at creating a memorable experience for children around reading and literacy.
She said it is not just about reading but “making reading fun for children.”
Responding to the enquiries on why it has taken so long to host a children’s book fair in Abuja, Eyimade said the free-to-attend event is the beginning of many things to come, “We look forward to bigger things with this.” Rovingheights further supports activities aimed at promoting literacy via book drives.
Meanwhile, Daniel and other children authors including Titilayo Umaru, Chioma Moma, Busola Adebola featured at the fair, took advantage of their meeting to kickstart plans for a children’s book festival.
“To say this was a productive meeting is an understatement, because not only did the children have fun, we also came up with fantastic concept to do something for ourselves; like an Abuja’s Children Book Authors Connect, that will enable us to meet, talk about books, be inspired, talk about our challenges and find ways to sell our books better,” said Daniel.
Abuja Children’s Book Fair held June 1, 2024 at the Novare Mall, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja.
