Tiffany Siefert is not a reader of books.

“I like magazines. But Carter loves books,” Siefert said of her 8-year-old son who couldn’t wait to see what Wednesday’s Literacy Fair hosted by Anchor Bay School District was all about.

“He loves reading so he’s really excited and his teacher is here,” Siefert said while waiting in line at the Shoreliner Express Mobile Kitchen operated by seniors at Anchor Bay High School. “The food truck is a bonus for mom.”

Every year Anchor Bay School District hosts a literacy fair.

In the past each building hosted their own event but this year teachers and administrators decided to combine their energy and resources to create one large event, and it was greatly appreciated.

“We have about 325 kids and 250 families coming,” said Bridget Baumgarten, an instructional coach at Naldrett Elementary and among the organizers for the event. “We thought it would be nice to bring everyone together as a community event.”

Joining Baumgarten was Leah Sacker.

“This is the first time we’ve done something this big,” she said, while watching a wave of parents and children arrive for the event at Anchor Bay Middle School North.

Sacker, who is an instructional coach like Baumgarten, remarked she is hoping the fair will inspire the same passion for reading that she had as a child.

“Kids are surrounded by so much technology and reading is not a thing anymore,” she said, noting the fair might prompt them to seek out more books and more visits to the bookstore.

“We need to make reading fun again,” she said.

Many of the parents attending the fair agreed that reading books should be an important part of a child’s daily activities.

“Reading is really important at this age,” said Katie Bilina, who attended the fair with her three children, Jordan, 5, Carter, 3, and Austin, 1, and her husband Jonathan, who is also a sixth-grade teacher.

“It builds a foundation and helps you grow as a student,” Bilina said, while listening to Kelly DiPucchio, a University of Michigan graduate, mom and New York Times bestselling author of such beloved titles as “Gaston,” “Oona” and “Grace for President.”

DiPucchio was the guest speaker and thoroughly impressed with the idea of a literacy fair.

“I grew up in rural Rochester and the closest thing we ever had to a Literacy Fair was the Scholastic Book Fair. Like most adults, I can still recall the excitement I felt as a kid when those rolling cases of shiny, new books filled up my school library,” said DiPucchio, who spoke to the crowd about how she became an author and what inspired her books.

“I can’t remember a time when books weren’t a part of my life. I became interested in writing for kids after I had my own children and I became enamoured with the world of picture books all over again through their eyes,” added DiPucchio, who is working on two new picture books, “How to be a proper Ogre,” and “The Secret Life of Dog Toys.”

The Michigan author is also writing episodes for the animated PBS Kids television series, “Carl the Collector.”

DiPucchio said she hopes students feel a stronger connection to the magic that books hold after her presentation and inspire them to continue fostering a lifelong love for reading and writing.

“We love doing events like this,” said Christine Murray, whose passion for reading stems from books that her mother read aloud when she was her daughter’s age. “She read to me and now I’m trying to get my children excited about reading.”

Teachers were among those helping to run the fair but were supported by volunteers from nearby libraries, who helped students create a library card and promote the Summer Reading Challenge.

Students and families were also treated to literacy activities and games, plus every student registered for the event received a free book and raffle ticket for one of several wonderful goodie baskets.

“We’re having so much fun,” said Gabby Finn, a teacher in charge of keeping the pile of free books in order. “It’s great to see so many people in the community coming out to promote literacy.”