Do you remember going to the book fair as a kid? The anticipation, the smell of new books, the hope youโve 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 โwhat 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
We love that I:55 is a company whose mission and name is based off of Isaiah 55. Their website helpfully explains, โEverything 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 youโll 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
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? Letโs Read!
What makes Ready Letโs 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 doesnโt have time or manpower to do a big book fair, this is a great alternative.
Format + Audience
Ready Letโs Read is an online alternative to traditional book fairs, most suitable for Christian schools.
Types of books
This Christian company aims to provide โresources 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 Letโs 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 studentโs 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? Letโs Read! |
---|---|---|
Format: In-person + online | Format: In-person + online | Format: Online only |
Type of Books: I:55 books are โpre-screened to make sure it adheres to biblical principles and values.โ
| Type of Books: Sky Tree books are โPre-Screened books so that you know wholesome content is getting into your students hands.โ
| Type of Books: This Christian company aims to provide โresources from publishers whose core message is the gospel of Christ.โ
|
Fundraising: Earn cash or book bucks | Fundraising: Earn SkyTree bucks | Fundraising: Earn money towards more books |
PRAY + PLAN
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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 โThe Lionโ is a great place to start. Donโt miss the latest in education and cultural news at Read Lion.
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How do I submit my book (s) that Iโve authored , available on Amazon ?
Hi Cheri—If you want to share them with our Teach 4 the Heart audience, you can email us at hello@teach4theheart.com and we can talk details. As far as the bookfairs go, my guess is to contact the companies directly? Thank you so much.