The budget cuts are biting hard! School districts are being forced to fire teachers and increase class sizes. We parents are being asked to pitch in more. My son had a box of facial tissue on his back-to-school list! I remember a time when all you had to do was show up for school. You got the text books, the pencils, and the construction paper free. Times have changed.
Along with this change is the constant barrage of fundraisers. I am usually given the option of paying in time or cash – buy whatever junk that is being peddled. What is a working parent to do? I usually just pay up.
My son finds the school book fairs very exciting, I happen to share that excitement. His teacher takes the class to the book fair ahead of time so the kids could make out a list of books they would like their parents to get them. That’s where they get me. I would usually pick up every book on my son’s list. My husband never could wrap his head around this. “Must you spend that much money? You own a kids’ bookstore yourself”.
Spending money on books my son picks out while supporting his school is something I can live with. Wait let me reword that; it’s something I am happy to do. Where I get the let down is the actual quality of the books he selects. What does a little kid know? If poor quality books were not offered, kids will not be picking them up. What value does a sponge Bob or Dora the explorer book give a kid? We parents are already struggling to limit their screen time with TV shows. The same people trying to promote literacy are essentially taking a good chuck out of that lesson.
So what’s a parent who is passionate about literacy and owns an online children’s bookstore to do? Be a solution to the problem of commercializing our kids. The Slimy Bookworm School Book Fair is open for business and we are ready to take your orders. Here is how we can bring value to your next book fair:
Our book fair is entirely online essentially eliminating the need for volunteers. Each participant gets a 5% discount on their purchase.
The school or PTA gets 20% of the proceeds of the book fair in cash. Not in books or store credit like a lot of the bigger book fair companies so if the school wants to use the money on Kleenex, they have that option. Ready to get started? Simply fill out our short form and we will be in touch with you in a jiffy.
