The Woodlands Children's Museum hosts Usborne Book Fair Dec. 21

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- In the midst of the holiday shopping season, families can browse through a rich collection of fiction and nonfiction books for children during the Usborne Book Fair at The Woodlands Children's Museum.

The fair is set for 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21, at 4775 W. Panther Creek Drive, Suite 280.

“Not only will the book fair give families an opportunity to give the children in their lives delightful books as holiday gifts, fair purchases will help our museum earn free books we can share in our exhibits, workshops, Shadow Puppet Theatre time and Storybook Theatre time,” said Angela Colton, executive director of the museum.

The museum has received more than 75 books in recent years as a result of hosting Usborne Book Fairs. The books coincide with museum floor programs, workshop curricula, cultural awareness and art processes.

Peter Usborne, who founded Usborne Publishing in 1973, is a patron for READ International, a charity that delivers quality books to schools in Tanzania. He also set up the Usborne Foundation with his children, Nicola and Martin, to support initiatives that develop early literacy. Through the Usborne Foundation, they developed Teach Your Monster to Read, a free, award-winning series of reading and phonics games.

“Usborne Publishing presents such varied titles and subjects from which to choose that we can apply in our workshops, museum reading areas and toddler area,” Colton said. “We are always so excited when Usborne comes to the museum because we know we are going to be presented with many surprises.”

Families greet the fairs with enthusiasm, too, Colton said.

“A most popular book in our toddler area is titled, ‘First Words,’” she said. “We are tickled to see adults interact with young toddlers using words from the books to assist with primary communication.”

The book fair is included in the museum’s $6 admission for children ages 1 and older. The Woodlands Children’s Museum is recommended for ages 7 and under. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. For more information, visit woodlandschildrensmuseum.org or call 281-465-0955.