Today's post is written by Denise Smith. Denise was a Children's Librarian for 5 years before she started working in her current position at an urban charter school. Denise is currently working on a school Media Specialist Certification. She's also a certified knit & crochet instructor. She teaches at a craft store and offers free lessons at an area library.
Denise has 4 grandchildren who are the light of her life and she's happy to share her love of reading, knitting and crocheting with them. She's also very proud of her 5 adult children who sometimes let her knit and crochet for them too.
This article is similar to another blog post I wrote a while back, Book Fair Ideas (or How to Survive). Would you like to write for Elementary Librarian, too? Click here to find out how!
I recently held my first Scholastic Book Fair and even though it was a lot of work, it was well worth it. I work part-time as Library Manager/School Librarian at a K-8 Charter School and have been with the school since the beginning of this school year.
Because I only work 2 ½ days a week, it was necessary for me to go in on my 2 days off to get things set up. I watch two of my grandsons on Mondays so I had the privilege of taking a 2 year old and 8 month old with me. They occupied themselves looking at books. We spent most of our time in the library but the times we ventured out, the students fell in love with my grandchildren! Students wanted to know if they were my children or my nephews, they couldn’t believe that I’m a “grandma”. I know that once students get to know more about teachers and school staff as real people, they relate better so this was a good thing for us all.
I went in Tuesday afternoon to host a Sneak Preview for the staff. I offered them the opportunity to complete their wish lists and see the activities I had planned for the students. I was a little disappointed by the low turnout but I was very happy with those who did attend. They commented on what a good job I’d done decorating and setting everything up.
On Wednesday, I went to work early for some last minute set up and to offer before school shopping for parents as they arrived with their students.
To see the student’s expressions when they walked in the library was priceless! They wanted to know where I got everything from, how much it cost me, if they could use their library cards to “buy” books and if I did everything by myself.
I offered two contests giving students a chance to win prizes. My guessing game was “Jumping Jelly Beans”. All of the kindergartners thought there were 100 (their teachers said it’s the highest number they know- there were actually 996). I was most amazed by the 8th grade male students. They had a serious conversation about determining volume, weight, height- they even asked for a ruler. One student who usually is quite a challenge asked how many bags of jelly beans I used. I told him it was an excellent question but I wouldn’t answer it. I also used the Scholastic Scavenger Hunt which the students also enjoyed. I randomly chose one winner from each homeroom from the correct answers.
We held a K-2 Literacy focused Family Night on Wednesday evening and the surprise guest for the evening was Clifford the Big Red Dog. The younger children wanted to hug and have their picture taken with Clifford. Our Principal’s husband was very happy that I’d asked him to volunteer for this position. Later in the week I recruited an 8th grade student to “be” Clifford as we visited two classrooms, again, he was loved by all.
Our three day fair made for very long days before, during and after. Our students are dismissed at 3:00 but I kept the Fair open until 4:00 so parents and caregivers could come in to shop. This was an excellent way for me to meet parents I may not otherwise. I was able to recommend books for their students. I propped the library door open so people walking by could easily see inside and I could invite them in. I’d stand in the doorway between classes and because the library is in a main hallway everyone passes by at some time during their day. I was pleasantly surprised by how many students gave me hugs as they went by, not something that had happened much before.
I made my own Thank You gifts which consisted of a scented candle wrapped in tissue paper and placed inside colorful bags. I used the Thank You card templates that were included in the Chairperson Toolkit. I gave gifts to the parent volunteers, the Title teacher who helped on the register and another staff member who took the time to help a student count out all of his $10.00 that was in coins.
The resources within the Toolkit were very helpful and I found the online videos more helpful than the in person workshop that I attended. My Scholastic consultant was very friendly and helpful.
The week before the fair, I showed all of the students the preview videos. I printed the coloring pages and word search puzzles to help create excitement for the upcoming event.
Having staff and parents say the library and Book Fair has never looked as good and being thanked by students for having the Book Fair made all of the hard work worth it. Anytime students are excited about reading is a good time!
What I’d do differently next time-
- Recruit more volunteers- I’d asked four and two of them didn’t show up.
- Find another way to display the posters- they fell down every night and had to be re-taped to the wall. I might take pictures and display the pictures instead of the actual posters.
- Put out less of the “extra” items. I didn’t display everything but next time I’d put out less of the ones that I did. I found an empty package hidden behind some books and was told by a staff member that a student was said to be selling items that he hadn’t paid for himself.
- Have a more prominent location for the Value Items display – I put them on their own table but they were near the back with the Cookbooks.
- Have discussions about money prior to the Fair- Many of our students had no real concept of money. So to them an item marked $5.99 would only cost them $5.00. And tax was a completely foreign concept to them.
- Find ways to get the staff more involved.
What book fair advice can you share with the Elementary Librarian readers? Let us know in the comments!
Michelle says
I wrapped up my 4th fair a few weeks ago. This year, I made the first day the preview day for all students. Teachers bring their kids to window shop and nothing is sold the first day. It gives all students a chance to see what we have and I think it helped about theft. After the preview day only ones with money could come and visit. We round to the nearest dollar to make it easier. So 5.99 is $6. I have a love-hate relationship with the cashier items. It's what the kids but which helps our sales. I rearrange all those items by price so the .50 and $1, etc stuff is together. They usually send them mixed up. I also don't waste my time putting out the hardback or adult books. They are too expensive.
Kathy says
When I do a book fair preview I schedule classes of older students with younger students. The older students love helping their younger buddies make a list of books as they both look at books available at the book fair. I came up with this idea because I work in a school that has very few parent volunteers. The older students love helping and it gives them a chance to be positive role models.
Patty says
This is a great idea. I love all opportunities to bring older kids together with the younger ones. Thanks
Barbara says
I have managed book fairs in the past. Book fair company gets the mist financial benefit. I am not a fan of book fairs. Amounts to less than minimum wage. I do not like to sell books. I like to give them away.
GayLynn Reynolds says
Barbara, that's wonderful that you have a good budget allotted for your library! However, if not for book fair profits, my library would have next to nothing... and in many area, nothing at all. Book seller may not be my favorite job and yes, I'd much rather give books away. It is what it is, sadly.
Carol Schaub says
I also use post it notes and put the prices on the featured bks in the leaflet. It stops the constant question HOw MUch is this????
Kathy says
Each year I dedicate a week of lessons to the book fair. I teach the students where to find the prices on books and how to add the appropriate amount for tax. I redesigned the wish lists offered by the book fair company to include a column for tax and add a tax table to the back of the list for reference. For most of my students the book fair is the only place they get to go shopping. I use the DVD to review the job roles of authors and illustrators.
Carol Schaub says
I just finished a Book Fair too! I always put on the note to parents that most books are at least $4.00 so they may send that so a child can get a book. I don't put all of the art and craft stuff out. The kids don't have the money and won't buy books if they see it. I put dots on the UPC symbol so if I walk around school and see it I know it is paid for. You can use a glue gun for the posters but only put little dots or use Scotch book tape, I pick books from the book fair to tell them about during bk fair so they can get an idea of what to buy. Sometimes I show them where to find prices on a bk.and that 4.99 means 5.00 if you add a penny so you need to bring $ 5.00. We go over that when we watch the video. We also look at the leaflet and I tell them about some of the featured bks.
Kathy says
I only put the non-book items out for sale on Family Fun Night. During the school day I only sell books. Last year I started selling the book marks but only to students who purchase a book.
Cat says
Ah, Book Fair 🙂 We're gearing up for ours again -- and with it being the only funding source for my library, it's a big deal! We do a whole week and I am wiped out by the end. (I also work 3 half days normally, so this is a big time commitment for me!)
One thing we've found that's a huge help with the "extra items" is to tape one set to a poster board that we can put out where the kids can see them. Then just keep the goodies behind the counter and have the cashiers or a student volunteer be the only one to handle them 'til they are sold. We number each item and put the prices in big, bright marker next to each one so they can tell us, "I want two number 5s and a number 3!" -- it cuts down on the casual swiping and also the "how much for a zebra eraser with the tax?" questions. (You can put post-it notes under each item in the display bins so your volunteers know which one is #5)