No need to save them the aisle seats, the Central School fifth-grade critics have already spoken. Once again, the Central School Book Fair and Ice Cream Social have received rave reviews as a well-organized, highlight event of the school year.

Held in the Hauser Junior High auditorium last week, the book fair offered Central students a wide array of books, posters, computer software and educational toys/games ostensibly satisfying every young reader’s curiosity.

Last Thursday, the students and their parents attended the popular ice cream social in the school’s cafeteria as a tasty top-off to the fun week. Riverside music composer Karena Mendoza provided the musical entertainment, while the kids enjoyed ice cream and made last-minute purchases at the book fair.

“I’ve been attending the book fair and ice cream social since I was in kindergarten,” said Central fifth-grade student Nick Jepson. “[The book fair] always has educational and fun books for all ages. Most of the subjects are covered.”

While Jepson is a historical fiction buff, with a particular affinity for the highly acclaimed “Ranger’s Apprentice” book series, classmate Alexander Todd enjoys comics and chapter books.

“I think the books are pretty cool,” Todd said. “The book fair just doesn’t have little kids books but also challenging books. I think what I liked most though is the free ice cream.”

According to several students and PTA members, some of the “hot” reads this year are “Swindle” by Gordon Korman, which chronicles the journey of 11-year-old Griffin Bing and his pals, who set out to retrieve a Babe Ruth baseball card. “The Fly Guy” series by Tedd Arnold is a common choice among younger readers.

“It really isn’t like a library,” added fifth-grader Madeline Brom. “The book fair has some really cool posters and a lot of series books.”

In addition to expanding their book collections, the students also were given an opportunity to donate money to help kids within their own school, as well as nationally, at the book fair.

“Every $10 a family spends at the book fair is worth $5 in free books for our school,” said Beverly Pieta, who co-chairs the Central PTA Book Fair Committee. “These are given to our school library and classrooms, as end-of-the-year rewards to children who make their AR (accelerated reader) goals, and as book grants for Central School students in need.”

Scholastic Books, which provided the books for Central’s book party, donates up to a million books to three non-profit reading programs-Kids in Distressed Situations, National Center for Family Literacy and Toys for Tots-for every dollar raised by Central and other schools.

Pieta also enlisted the talents of award-winning composer and close friend, Mendoza. The South African native is known for her appealing, kid-friendly tunes. Mendoza donated $1 for every one of her “On-the-Loose Dreams” CDs sold to the school’s One for Books program for needy Central students.

Dating as far back as 1950, the Central PTA Book Fair has always kept the focus on fostering a love of reading for its students.

“I believe we are all doing it because we love books,” said PTA member Mary Jo Robling. “And, we love getting them into the hands of the children in our community.”