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Biggest and discounted book sale event makes Christmas merry

Friday, December 16th, 2022 05:10 | By
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Shoppers at maize flour shelf at a supermarket in Kitengela town. PD/ CHRISTINE MUSA

The festivities have dawned with splendor for book lovers and inquisitive minds alike as the most thrilling and ridiculously discounted book sale gets underway at Sarit Expo Centre, Nairobi.

Malaysia-founded Big Bad Wolf Books Sharjah is holding the vastest book sale phenomenon in the country where thousands of new books are selling at 95 per cent off the recommended retail price from Wednesday this week to Christmas day. Kenyans can sift through over half a million book selections with more than 15,000 titles. Of this number, at least 600 titles retail between Sh200 to Sh400, effectively catering to the varying economic classes.

“We have books from high-quality authors and publishers ranging from Fiction to non-fiction, young adult books, children’s books with augmented reality, cookbooks, coffee table books, reference books and so much more. We are urging Kenyans to come out and experience an exciting time shopping for books,” said Bradley Heslop, Big Bad Wolf representative.

The shopping experience at the book sale differs greatly from your typical floor-to-ceiling bookshop escapades.

Here, books are deftly piled up on waist-high tables with delightful music pouring out of the speakers. Also, the absence of painting, writing, filing paraphernalia, and electronics, standard in most bookshops allows you to give books wholesome attention. Famous classics, revered memoirs, critically acclaimed anthologies, entry authors, how-to books, and books of arts are strewn in the vicinity awaiting your purchase.

 Big Bad Wolf is dubbed the grandest book-sell experience in the world showcasing a wide selection of English-written books from all corners of the literary world. Since its inception in 2009, The Big Bad Wolf global reading advocacy initiative has toured over 37 cities in 15 countries with a recent market penetration into Africa.

Its annual book sale waves intend to inspire people to foster a reading culture, ignite creativity and stir inspiration by providing affordable books to everyone.

In October, Big Bad wolf held its inaugural book sale in Kenya where over 100,000 books were sold.

“We noted a huge demand for adult books; fiction and non-fiction from our first book sale. In other countries, children’s books were more dominant. We believe there might be some cost and variety constraints in that section hence the demand,” said Heslop

Heslop keenly observes stifling factors such as affordability, and obtainability account for low book uptake and not mere disinterest in reading as infamously hypothesised.

It is for these reasons and more, Big Bad Wolf’ resolved to provide reasonably priced books. “We are encouraging Kenyans to buy books which shall be given to charitable organizations, we have pledged 500 copies to Miss Kotch Kenya and invite the public also to donate, Big Bad Wolf will match public donations,” said Heslop. “We do this because we want everyone to engage with books and reach the underserved communities.”

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