Text from my daughter: “Family picnic at Myrtle on Oct. 3rd. Can you go?”
“Yes! I’m in.”
The family picnic coincided with the Scholastic Book Fair.
I’m usually on the other side of the book fair. Now I never did have to run it. Hats off to the school librarian. And I did not volunteer. But it was always an exciting week at school. The librarian had coffee and pastries every day. There were quiet times when I could go in, and I always bought books for my classroom or for my grandchildren. One of the things that bugged me were the toys and trinkets. I suppose these are there for kids who didn’t have enough money to buy a book, but as a teacher, I inevitably was taking away one of the treasures from distractible kids.
I set up a rule before we even walked into the book fair. Mamére doesn’t buy toys, only books.
Stella’s pre-k 4 class was the first group at the picnic. (They had a rolling schedule.) So Stella and I went through the book fair with ease. She picked out two books and a diary with keys. I decided the diary was not a toy. I want to encourage any kind of writing, even pre-k scribble and drawing. There wasn’t a huge crowd, either.
However by the time the first graders made it into the book fair, the line was a swirl and the library was full of parents, kids, teachers, and noise! Again, I didn’t mind. I enjoyed visiting with a mother in line with me. We both have Leos. Hers is Leo Fox and mine is Leo Wolf. I recalled when they were born around the same time. Her sister-in-law is a friend of mine.
Scholastic books are sneaky about the toy thing. Leo picked out a book about snakes that had a plastic snake skull with it, a book about sharks that included shark teeth, and a book about making Play-Doh sea animals that, of course, came with Play-Doh.
Stella was a little bit upset that Leo got toys. But they were excited that I checked them out of school, and we had an afternoon of playtime at Mamére’s house. I think I like this side of book fair madness.
Reflections on the Teche 
Oh, the sneaky toy thing use to drive me crazy even with the 5th graders. So many things ended up in my desk drawer until the end of the day. But today Little Man did not have money and either did I at school pick up. Mom to the rescue a bit later and off they went. Twenty minutes later there he was, the 6 year old, on the phone explaining each of the books he had gotten and how he went over budget by $4.00. Now he has a few extra jobs to do for Mom but he was a happy camper with his books and so was I. Got a love a good book fair!
I loved book fairs as a classroom teacher and I miss them now that I’m out of the classroom. I might be asking the grandkids when theirs is, because that would be so much fun!
I love spending time with my grands as they choose books from their holiday gift cards. And I agree: No toys!
Ah, the toys! One of my great frustrations. Love that you got to be on the grandma side of things this time! What fun!
So sweet! I love that you get to experience a book fair from the other side with these precious grandchildren. I know what you mean about those Scholastic toys/books.