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Too young for chopsticks, but old enough for homework: exercise books for kindergartners a big hit at Hong Kong Book Fair

‘Win at starting line’ mentality pushing parents to make children take extra classes and do exercises at younger age

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Five-year-old Isaac is about to start primary one. Photo: Lauren Chan

Parents are snapping up children’s story and exercise books at this year’s book fair, with those aimed at kindergarten students proving increasingly popular.

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The bestsellers are exercises for primary school children from KEA Learning International, one of dozens of publishers at the fair targeting children so young they don’t even know how to use chopsticks and pens.

“Sales of kindergarten exercises have greatly increased in the past one or two years,” Lee Wing-lam, manager at the KEA stall, said.

The annual Hong Kong Book Fair, which opened on Wednesday and ends next Tuesday, is one of the largest in the world and features local and international publishers.

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“I’ve bought more than 10 exercise books today,” Yoko Wong, a housewife in her late 30s, said.

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