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3 Christian Book Fairs that are Great Scholastic Alternatives

two children, one standing, and one in a wheelchair, with lots of books behind them, excited for the book fair

Do you remember going to the book fair as a kid? The anticipation, the smell of new books, the hope youโ€™ve found your new favorite story. Book fairs can be such a delightful experience for students and teachers.

These days, though, they can be problematic as well. The quality of books seems to be going down, and cultural differences over what is appropriate for kids increases. Scholastic, the most popular book fair, faces increasing controversy about its books and is no longer reliable for Christian schools, who are now looking for Christian book fairs that curate a selection of God-honoring books. 

listen here:

The question โ€œwhat are some good book fair alternatives to Scholastic?โ€ has been asked so many times in our Facebook group, that we decided to do some digging and report back to you on the best Christian book fair options for your school. Here are our top recommendations:

I:55 Book Fairs

https://i55bookfairs.com/ 

We love that I:55 is a company whose mission and name  is based off of Isaiah 55. Their website helpfully explains, โ€œEverything we send to a book fair has been pre-screened to make sure it adheres to biblical principles and values.โ€ What we found seemed to back that up. I:55 is straightforward and clear, providing well-documented and detailed information about what to expect and what they provide, especially on their FAQ page. This means youโ€™ll know exactly what your school will be getting, no surprises.

Format + Audience

 I:55 offers regular in-person, mini in-person, and online book fairs. Their selections are the best fit for K-12 Christian schools of various sizes. They include secular titles in their inventory as well, so with the right secular school, this could be a good fit. 

Types of books

Browse their inventory right online for chapter books, leveled readers, board books, picture books, non-fiction, devotionals, novelty items,  and more.

Fundraising

Schools have a choice between earning cash or book bucks. Flyers, posters, yard signs, and a banner are provided for marketing. 

  • Regular + Mini Fairs: 20% of sales in cash or 40% of their sales in book bucks.
  • Online fairs: 25% cash from sales. If orders exceed $400, schools can choose 50% of sales in book bucks. 

SkyTree Book Fairs

https://skytreebookfairs.org/ 

If you want a Christian book fair led by concerned parents, Sky Tree Book Fairs is for you. We love that they provide a selection of age-appropriate books, not just in reading level, but in content as well. The founders worked with Kirk Cameron on his library tours, and Cameron now serves on the advisory board, making sure Christian schools are getting books that honor God and inspire kids.

Format + Audience

Sky Tree Books is a best fit for Christian schools Pre-K to 8th grade.

  • In person for schools expecting sales over $2000, or with more than 200 students
  • Online for schools of any size
Types of books

The website describes they have more than 200 books available. They have several genres/categories including reference, chapter books, middle grade, board books, graphic novels, picture books, and so much more! 

Fundraising

Marketing materials are provided for both online and in-person fairs.

  • Schools can earn 20% in cash or 40% in SkyTree Bucks if they have more than 200 students or previous sales over $2000. 
  • Smaller schools can host a book fair online and earn 45% of sales in Sky Tree Bucks

Ready? Letโ€™s Read!

https://readyletsread.com/ 

What makes Ready Letโ€™s Read unique in the world of book fairs, is the fact that it is low-risk for schools. There are no up front costs, so your school can only benefit from hosting one. Products are shipped to the school ready to be distributed to students! If your school doesnโ€™t have time or manpower to do a big book fair, this is a great alternative. 

Format + Audience

Ready Letโ€™s Read is an online alternative to traditional book fairs, most suitable for Christian schools.

Types of books

This Christian company aims to provide โ€œresources from publishers whose core message is the gospel of Christ.โ€ Their fall collection of books can be reviewed here.

Fundraising

20% of sales go to the school to order more books from Ready Letโ€™s Read. Promotional materials and customizable emails are provided at no cost to the school. 

Bonus for Limited Locations: Blue Ribbon Book Fair

https://www.blueribbonbookfairs.com/ 

Is your school in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Wisconsin or Missouri? Blue Ribbon Book Fair makes it easy to run a book fair at your school! If you want a full service book fair, we were impressed that they provide setup, tear-down, and organized checklists for everything in-between.

Most of the books they bring are discounted as well, so that students can get access to as many books as possible. They feel it is a privilege to come into schools, and have great reviews for how great they are to work with. 

Format + Audience

Blue Ribbon Book Fairs are held in person for Catholic and Christian elementary schools. 

Types of books

  • Non-fiction
  • Friends & Family
  • STEM & STEAM
  • Sports & Adventure 
  • & more categories
Fundraising

Blue Ribbon Book Fair credit can be used to purchase books.

Additional highlights

Blue Ribbon Book Fairs has some exciting options for gift cards and out-of-town families being able to  add to a studentโ€™s wallet. They also offer STEM and STEAM themed book fairs. Schools that participate also get access to Readola curriculum, which is based on the titles given awards by Blue Ribbon Books.

Recap

I:55

SkyTree

Ready? Letโ€™s Read!

Format:

In-person + online

Format:

In-person + online

Format:

Online only

Type of Books:

I:55 books are โ€œpre-screened to make sure it adheres to biblical principles and values.โ€


  • Fiction (ages 0-18)
  • Non-fiction (ages 4-18)
  • Bibles + Devotionals
  • Novelty items and box sets

Type of Books:

Sky Tree books are โ€œPre-Screened books so that you know wholesome content is getting into your students hands.โ€ 


  • Reference 
  • Chapter books
  • Middle grade
  • Board books
  • Graphic novels
  • Picture books

Type of Books:

This Christian company aims to provide โ€œresources from publishers whose core message is the gospel of Christ.โ€


  • Picture books
  • Chapter books
  • Novelty items
  • Devotionals

Fundraising:

Earn cash or book bucks

Fundraising: 

Earn SkyTree bucks

Fundraising: 

Earn money towards more books

PRAY + PLAN

We created the Pray & Plan for Christian teachers who want to prioritize what matters most- at school, at home, & in their spiritual walk. It has unique features to make your life run more smoothly and efficiently, such as Scripture coloring pages, habit trackers, a spot for prayer requests, a place to plan work start and stop hours, and more!

heRZOG FOUNDATIoN

The Herzog Foundation exists to catalyze and accelerate the development of quality Christ-centered K-12 education so that families and culture flourish. If you are someone who likes to be up to date on what the cultural issues, particularly those that are facing education, the online news publication โ€œThe Lionโ€ is a great place to start. Donโ€™t miss the latest in education and cultural news at Read Lion.

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Scholastic, the most popular book fair, faces increasing controversy about its books and is no longer reliable for Christian schools, who are now looking for Christian book fairs that curate a selection of God-honoring books. We've done some research and found the best book fair options for your Christian school!

This article may contain affiliate links. This means that if you purchase a resource after clicking the link, Teach 4 the Heart may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks for helping support Teach 4 the Heart in this way.

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