Inspiring Ideas for your Family Event

A Scholastic Book Fair is an event that brings students, teachers, families, and the community together in a school setting to celebrate reading. It’s a perfect time to hold a Family Event that will really make your Book Fair all the more exciting.

Host multiple events during your Book Fair week. You can reach a much bigger audience if you offer customers a variety of times to visit your Fair.

As an added incentive for conducting a Family Event at your Book Fair, you will receive Customer Rewards in the form of IRC vouchers that you can redeem in our exclusive Instructional Resource Catalog.

Make your Family Event a success!

• Create a special story time event with our Read-Aloud program.
• Have a Family Event the same time your school is hosting another program such as a PTA/PTO general meeting, open house, science fair, student achievement awards ceremony, or art or music program.
• Decorate the Book Fair and entire school with Camp Read a Book décor.
• Use our themed t-shirt art template (PDF 112KB) to inspire shirt sales. Sell yours for $2 above cost.
• Offer face painting and photo opportunities.
• Designate a children’s reading and coloring area for young children to color a Camp Read a Book coloring sheet (PDF 112KB), bookmark, (PDF Form 85KB) or other book-based activity.
• Announce the winners of pre-fair contests. Present the winners with achievement certificates.
• Host a story time with a local author, mayor, or queen of a local pageant.
• Offer a gift-wrapping service by enlisting a few 4^th or 5^th graders to gift-wrap for holidays or birthday gifts.
• Ask local businesses to donate refreshments. For example, sell donated pizza for a $1 a slice; use this money to purchase books for those students in need.

Book Fair Event Ideas

• Muffins for Moms: Invite students' moms and serve a light breakfast of pastries, fresh fruit, and coffee before school begins.
• Doughnuts for Dads: Encourage dads to check out your Book Fair. Offer doughnuts and coffee as a treat.
• Grand Day: Set aside a special day where students' grandparents or anyone grand in their lives can join them for lunch before shopping your Fair.
• Family Event for Grades K-2: Plan a Nighty-Night, Knight event with a read-aloud from the National Center for Family Literacy.
• Family Event for Grades 3-6: Host a regal fantasy party for your older students. Have a "hamburger king" dinner. Ask local eateries to supply food and paper crowns.
• Parents Only Shopping Event: Give parents an opportunity to shop by themselves. They can locate Classroom Wish List books and shop for gifts. A babysitting service can make this event even more attractive to busy parents. Create a relaxing coffee house experience for them.
• Community Event: Open your doors to the entire school community and have a literacy festival. Include activities similar to your Family Event, plus additional ones that are huge draws. Serve plenty of refreshments as well.

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