I don't mind seeing a few bookmarks, pencils, and erasers because some kids just can't afford much else. It's those trinket things and those @#$! posters that drive me crazy! I am usually happy with the book selections we have with Scholastic, we have always had good luck with this company but they are so expensive and we a poor community. We used to have a Troll fair but I am told they discontinued bookfairs, I don't even remember what they had I just remember they had more affordable books.
Thanks for your input - PLEASE keep it coming!! I am trying to design a bookfair program - and all your suggestions/favorables/not-so-favorables would be greatly appreciated!!
Thanks
Robin
PS - I know how you feel about the pencils and other non-book items. I've been telling my boys for years it's a BOOK fair - I will buy them books, if they want anything else they pay - and at that we could do better on prices someplace else. They usually don't get anything then!
I'll second Carrie. I've helped during our bookfairs and so many kids want to buy books that have trinkets (for the trinket) or the non-book items like posters or cutsie erasers. The parents aren't there to say no, and the volunteers can't always direct the kids to the BOOKs in BOOKFair. Carrie has a great point about the award-winners and classics. We've had good success with our Scholastic Bookfair, but there's always ways to improve.
I would love to see very few licensed characters (SpongeBob, Lizzie McGuire) and good fiction books; award winners; books I can give as gifts to younger or older.
I think there are thousands of wonderful books that we never really hear about...our wonderful librarian helps, but her buying budget is limited. For example, what if you offered every major "childrens literature" award winner for the last three years? plus classics from our childhood. No pink pencils and gel pens, please.
I would love to see a variety of prices -- it is a myth that we can only offer inexpensive books. I am always looking to invest in books that we will use, gift away, or donate to our classroom. And if the proceeds benefit our school, even better!
Hi -
I am a publisher rep and am always in contact with librarians who are so unhappy with the Scholastic book fair program and ask me to please get my co. and one of our publishers to design a book fair.
What ones have you done and what did you like about their program and what did you not like? I could use the input from Parents/PTO/Librarians...
Thanks so much for your help and input.
Robin
