PHNOM PENH The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale has finally arrived, offering free entrance of over a million new English books to Cambodia’s eager readers. Hoards of people rush to grab books on the first day of sales, piling cartloads of reading material which were discounted at 50% to 90% off from the original price. The book sale will run from 9 A.M. to 12 midnight daily for 12 days, starting from 9 January 2020 until 20 January 2020 at Rung Reung Market (Phsar Rung Reung) on Chroy Changvar.
The Minister of Information, His Excellency Mr Khieu Kanharith, attended the event and welcomed the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale into Cambodia. In a speech at the sale’s launch, Mr Khieu spoke about how he learned English through books and noted that although the kingdom readership had increased over the past decade, there were not many affordable English books available. The Big Bad Wolf Book Sale overcomes the issue of price by offering more than 1 million brand-new and original English language books at 50% to 90% off recommended retail price.
“We are more than just a Book Sale, we see ourselves as a reading advocacy organisation that promotes English literacy. Our mission is to change the world one book at a time by making sure that our books remain affordable and accessible to anyone and everyone.”
Co-founders Andrew Yap and Jaqueline Ng, has made The Big Bad Wolf Book Sales into a cherished event in Malaysia since 2009. “We are more than just a Book Sale, we see ourselves as a reading advocacy organisation that promotes English literacy. Our mission is to change the world one book at a time by making sure that our books remain affordable and accessible to anyone and everyone. There’s a lot of people who don’t have access to books because of pricing, which is regrettable because a book can change someone’s life by empowering them with the knowledge or inspiring them to chase their dreams,” said Mr Yap. In 2019 alone, the Book Sale travelled to 32 cities in 10 countries in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Middle East, drawing in more than 5 million visitors.
“Every developing country we go to, there is not enough support to make books accessible and affordable. We work very closely with the local government and the ministries to start libraries and systems to make books affordable and accessible, not just once a year, but every day. The future of our generation is kids and they need to read every day,” Yap told When in Phnom Penh(WIPP).
Even the character of the Big Bad Wolf was created to resonance with young readers and encourage them to read every day. One of the highlights of the sale is the Magical Books series. The Magical Books intices early learners from age 1 – 6 years old with an immersive Augmented Reality (AR) reading experience. The AR technology allows children to interact, learn and read all at the same time.
“It is a matter of pride for all Cambodians that the World’s Biggest Book Sale is now happening in Phnom Penh. It is a great opportunity for people to upgrade their skills and knowledge through books, and to also instil a healthy habit of reading among children from a young age. The growing demand for English books among the new generation is the driving force behind our plan to bring this Sale to Cambodia,” said Mr Ouk Chandara, spokesperson of the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Phnom Penh 2020. “In today’s world, for Cambodians to thrive in a globalised economy and for Cambodia to swiftly develop its human resources, we have to continue working towards ensuring that the younger
Genres include children’s books, fiction, and non-fiction, bestseller titles, novels, science fiction, romance, self-help, literature, graphic novels, business, architecture, and design, among many others. Books can be purchased using cash, credit, or debit cards and the public is encouraged to make multiple visits, as books will be continuously restocked throughout the 12 days of the Book Sale. Cellcard as the Official Telco Partner of the Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Phnom Penh 2020 will be having an interactive booth to keep the visitors engaged.