Paradise for bookworms

The Star

2 days ago

Books galore: People buying books at the Popular Bookfair held at Island 88 in Tanjong Tokong, Penang. — LIM BENG TATT/The Star
GEORGE TOWN: Soaking in the smell of new books at amazing prices, visitors to Popular Bookfair happening now are packing the 20,000sq ft (1,858sq m) fair.
With rebates of up to 50%, the fair's shelves are filled with books of all genres and languages, including Mandarin and Bahasa Malaysia.
Writer Andrea Filmer, 40, brought her three children and was pleased with the vast collection.
'My husband and I grew up reading physical books.
'Till now, both of us carry books to read when we are waiting for our kids to finish a class or something,' she said when met at the book fair at Island 88 in Tanjong Tokong.
Emphasising the importance of physical books rather than using smartphones or tablets, Filmer said she taught her children to enjoy reading too.
She said she and her husband did not enjoy 'doomscrolling' – an informal term referring to the act of excessively scrolling through news or social media content.
'The kids follow by example and it is difficult to tell a kid to read if we are not doing the same.
'My kids read for fun and they love comics.
'I am trying to transition them to other genres,' she said.
'We would even drive down to Kuala Lumpur when there is a book fair there, so it is nice to have Popular Bookfair here,' she said.
Since it is now the school holidays, accounts assistant Chan Kok Yen, 46, saw it as a great opportunity to take her twin sons Jasper and Jerome Chan, seven, to Popular Bookfair.
'These days, children are inclined towards surfing the Internet and using electronic gadgets.
'As a parent, I want them to read physical books as I can monitor the content they consume.
'It is better for them to read something rather than watch videos or the television,' she said.
Chan said her children loved Chinese comic books and while she was trying to wean them off it, she found that comic books helped with their language comprehension.
The book fair features deals and rebates of up to 50% on a myriad of books ranging from bestsellers, fiction, non-fiction, early education, higher education, horror, comics, health and self help books.
The large section of Chinese and Bahasa Malaysia books offers options in multiple languages and educational needs.
Complementing the book fair is its section of all things stationery, electronics and fun.
Pick up your music needs in the form of CDs, DVDs and vinyls or accessorise your computer with speaker, earphones, keyboards, a fancy mouse and other devices at great prices.
The book fair even has fun board games and a tidbits corner for when you are feeling peckish while shopping.
There are also activities such as a Bingo Parenting Station Game (on June 6 and 7) which will boost cognitive skills and encourage teamwork, a Popular Quiz Show held in both Mandarin and English (June 6 to 8), fun time workshops as well as meet and greet sessions with authors and a well known chef to add to the fun.
Customers are encouraged to check out the book fair rewards where the more you spend the better the promotions.
If one spends RM250 and above, they will receive vouchers, rebates and exclusive travel blanket and options to buy things at the Bonus Treats corner.
Head over to Level Two at Island 88 from 10am to 10pm from now till June 9.
For details, visit www.popular.com.my or Popular Malaysia's Facebook page.