BIG CYPRESS — Books about elephants, tigers and other animals took over the Ahfachkee media center as the Scholastic Book Fair, Jungle version, encouraged students to shop for books from March 9 to March 13.

The school has two book fairs each year, one in the fall and the other in the spring. Before the fair, videos about featured authors are shown to the students. According to media specialist Michele Horrell, books by those authors fly off the shelves.

Justin Billie loves to read and bought a few books, pens, pencils, a pointer and other assorted items.

“I read about 10 books a month,” said the seventh-grader. “I like action novels. My favorites are Dragon Ball Super Books.”

The book fair also benefits teachers and their classrooms. Each teacher and non-instructional staff member receives a stipend which they may spend for books and supplies.

Prices for books and other things such as posters, pencils and other fun things ranged from $.79 to $30.

Sixth-grade English teacher Janice Ryner cobbled together $60 from employees who weren’t planning to shop for anything.

“I always recruit my friends who aren’t using it,” said Ryner. “It’s just me thinking outside of the box. I bought some chapter books, novels and some fun stuff for the class.”

Although the family night at the book fair was cancelled, the students shopped all week and the fair was a success.