This book sale is an important fundraiser for the school with all the money going back into improving the literacy of children.

The theme of Book Week this year is Connect to Reading and at OPS student readers will connect with each other and with literature through a book swap, to be held during school hours on Friday, August 22.

In just four days since the project began at the school students have brought in 500 books and for each one a child donates, he or she receives a ticket that can be redeemed for a different title at the book swap.

The children will have plenty to choose from because their donations will be added to the more than 5000 books already on offer through The Book Yard which is a quarterly sale of pre-loved books held at the Heritage Hall of OPS.

On the book swap day infants students will be paired with older primary students who will be their buddy for the day.

Founder of Book Yard Sarah Ferguson said it is hoped this will encourage children of different ages to connect by sharing their experiences of favourite books and older children may recommend it to a younger buddy at the swap.

OPS librarian Liz Smith said putting new titles in children’s hands will help them to read a wide range of books.

“Reading with your children helps expand their vocabulary and broadens their interests by reading diverse texts,” she said.

Adults will have the opportunity to Connect to Reading at the next Book Yard the following day on Saturday, August 23.

At the Book Yard there will be an impressive selection of non-fiction books all collated under topics which include cooking, gardening, craft, computers, history and sport of all categories.

The Book Yard will be open to the public from 9am until 2pm on Saturday, August 23 at the OPS school Heritage Hall off Kite Street.

Entry is free and books cost one dollar per centimetre as measured across the spine.