I don't wnat to buy overpriced books even if the school gets money for them

[Twiglett]

and i don't consider a travelling 'book fair' to be a literacy event

and the fact you take the classes down during school time just exacerbates the problems (kids are supposed to bring in their money to buy something)

it is emotional blackmail - my bloody DD ended up with a Barbie book because I couldn't stand the tantrums over her not being allowed 2 other books due to cost and crapness ... we don't do Barbie in this house .. all she wanted was the tiara anyway

the books are sold at cover price - who buys books at cover price?

I already support the school with school link purchases (school gets books in return) and amazon purchases (school gets

I hate it

AIBU to complain to school about it

I used to love book fairs at school.

I did buy books though rather than film/tv related stuff.

I still remember now that with my own pocket money I bought Midnight Pirate (about a kitten), and then the next year April Fools (a point horror).

It encourages reading though which is what counts regardless of what crap it is

I never give the boys money and never go to the book fair.

We've got about 20,000,000,000 books here already that never get read because they all have their fav ones that get read over and over and over and over.

I mean give the money to goto eth bokk fair.

The Book People every time for us.

But that sense of BUYING your OWN book is incredible

perfectly reasonable twig.

however,i struggle with a forced agenda of any kind...all the more if there is money to be had from me.

I try and steer clear of the school book fairs for the reasons already mentioned.

They never have any decent books, just merchandise of whatever the latest tv craze.

schoollink is fabbo, sets of books dead cheap I stock up for Xmas and birthdays, school get decent % so great all round.

Book fair is another thing - agreee about the pester power, esp with younger kids you cant reason with.

Mine LOVE reading but have always found NOT MUCH CHOICE. Disney/barbie sticker/puzzle books vastly overpriced for what they are. YUK. Occasionally have let them spend own money. Once found the bookfair books DDs wanted in Waterstones in a 3 for 2 offer, so each got their book AND one to share

mine are now old enough to realise that they can get more for their money elsewhere and are not losing out in any way by not having cash to buy in school time.

Abbey - if they read at all, you're doing well.

Hi - I used to feel the same way about our school book fairs - just a load of tatty rubbish books that the kids would pester me to get. I took action - I joined Usborne Books for Children and now I run the book fair at school !!!! Children see the books and then bring the parents in after school when they can decide if they want to buy or not. The school gets 60% of FREE books and the children get decent good quality books - we even take the World Book Day vouchers to save the parents money.

If you want me to talk to your school I am happy to do so - or if you want me to help you do your own book fairs please send me an EMail.

www.usborneonline.org/bevhorkan

I agree, it's usually over priced crap too.

We get the 'travelling book fair' at our school too. I just tell the kids that they are too expensive and I don't buy them.