BOOK FAIRS & I LOVE TO READ MONTH

Area schools will celebrate I LOVE TO READ month in February, and your kids may have already received a calendar of fun events at school.  One of the big events of I Love to Read month is the Scholastic Book Fair, typically held during conferences.

I’ve been volunteering at the St. Michael Elementary book fairs for the last four years.  My love of books combined with a long history of retail management made this the perfect match for my volunteering efforts, and I’ve recently agreed to become the Book Fair Coordinator for the PTO.  I don’t have a lot of extra time for volunteering, but getting good, quality books in the hands of our kids is important to me.  taking some time out of my evening twice a year is an easy solution. 

Maybe your volunteer time is limited as well.  If you can’t be consistently active in your child’s PTO or another organization, working a volunteer shift at the Book Fair could be the answer.

TOP TEN REASONS TO VOLUNTEER AT YOUR CHILD’S BOOK FAIR:

10. Great deals!  Scholastic offers books as low as $1.  If you volunteer for set-up, you can scope out these good deals ahead of time.

9. Limited time commitment! Shifts are typically two hours.  Think how much our schools could accomplish if every parent gave two hours of their time each year. 

8. Connections! Meet and connect with other parents and PTO volunteers.

7. Book recommendations!  Looking for book ideas for your kids? See what other kids are taking home and ask about their favorites.  (I know, I know.  Sometimes this backfires.)

6. Find a little something for yourself!  In addition to selections geared toward adults, you might find other treasures and new authors.  Middle Grade and Young Adult novels aren’t just for kids. 

5. Set an example for your kids! Show them that volunteering is important to you,and volunteering will become important to them.  They can even volunteer themselves by helping other students find books, rolling posters, and bagging books.

4. It’s fun! There’s usually a theme, so be creative and dress up!  STME’s upcoming theme, for example, is Story Laboratory: Reading Gives You Super Power.  Looks like I need to dust off the old lab coat!

3. It’s easy!  Even if you’ve never operated a cash register before, this one couldn’t be simpler!  With the punch of a few buttons, the transaction is done and you’ve got happy customers.  Don’t want to cashier?  Help with set-up or tear-down.

2. Validation! You know, that feeling you get when you realize that there are other parents who argue with their kids every time they want to bring home another pointer or calculator shaped like a chocolate bar.  You know what I’m talking about.

And the number one reason to volunteer at your child’s Book Fair:

1. Show your support of your school, your PTO, and most importantly, READING!  It’s a great fundraiser for our schools and helps encourage kids to READ EVERY DAY!  Learn more about Scholastic Book Fairs here.

Contact your school’s Media Specialist or PTO President or Book Fair Coordinator to find out more details about upcoming Book Fairs and volunteer opportunities. It's a fantastic way to celebrate I LOVE TO READ month!