How to run a Book Fair
Organising a Scholastic Book Fair is easy and a great way to fundraise for new books for your school. All you need to do is book a Fair at a convenient time for you – perhaps to coincide with a parents’ evening or book week. Then just follow these three simple steps:
1. Plan and promote your Book Fair
We’ll send you a free Planning Kit full of posters and invitations, as well as tips, to help you set a goal, recruit volunteers, create excitement and advertise your Book Fair.
Your Book Fair Co-ordinator will also be available by telephone to help you every step of the way and guide you through the tools on this website.
2. Set up and run your Book Fair
We’ll deliver mobile bookcases packed with a wide range of titles direct for your school. All you need to do is open them up and start selling to parents and pupils.
3. Take your FREE books!
After a week we’ll come back and collect your cases. Every book sold at your Fair can help to get free books for your school. If you’ve made enough sales to earn Rewards, you can take books from the cases before they’re collected or choose from a wide range of resources in our Scholastic Shop.
What Book Fair Organisers say:
‘One of the most rewarding things about holding the Book Fair was seeing children who would not normally go to a bookshop on the high street being taken to the Book Fair in school.’
Jenny Bayley, Literacy co-ordintator at Alexandra Infants School
'It’s amazing that our school has been having a Scholastic Book Fair for 21 years and even more astonishing to think how many children have taken books home from them to read over and over again.'
Marguerite Fowler, St Mary’s Primary School
'It’s a great way to get children enthusiastic about books, and it’s their enthusiasm that drives parents to come in and buy for them. It’s especially great for children who don’t get taken to bookshops or libraries.'
Miss Brotherton, Sutton Veny CE, Primary School
‘I’m always proud to see my books on the bookcases… Book Fairs are a great way to promote reading in schools.’
Dan Freedman, World Book Day author and creator of the Jamie Johnson series
‘The new books bought with our commission have been a breath of fresh air in the libraries, and tempted the students to borrow them… We’ve also chosen resources to support teaching literacy in the classrooms.’
Camilla Johnson, Fair Organiser, Wickham Court School
'A lot of children aren’t exposed to books at home so having books brought to them through the Book Fair is great – it’s also great to open the eyes of the parents.'
Miss Hawkins, Hartsholme Primary School
'Excellent range of books, quality literature accessible to all ages. Everything very efficient – a huge and unequivocal success! Thank you very much.'
Linda Slinger, Bognor Regis
'We ran our fair during both nights of our Parents’ Evening. The Fair stayed open until 8 o’clock and our parents had a chance to browse. Our revenue went up by 89% compared to the previous year.'
West Park CE Middle School
'Every year we have one special focus week in school and this year we decided to launch a Book Week alongside the Book Fair to spark the enthusiasm of children and parents. By the end of one week we sold more than £3,500 worth of books!'
Jean McKinnon, Bridge of Allan School
‘Your staff were unfailingly polite, patient, charming and efficient. I can’t rate them highly enough.’ Naomi Tamblyn, Mersea Island School
