Posts Tagged independent bookstores

Educators! Make the Most of Your Bookstore Visit

Walk through the door of any bookstore, inhale deeply, and you’ll smell it. It’s the unmistakable scent of paper and ink, inspiration and action, humor and heart. Bookstores are one of my favorite places on the planet. Anytime I travel, I look up a local book store to explore and support with a purchase, and I encourage you to do the same.

This display is from Storyline Bookshop in Upper Arlington, OH. Photo used with permission.

Everyone can benefit from the soul-filling experience of holding a brand-new book in their hands; however, if you are an educator, there are many other ways you can make the most of a local bookstore visit.

As an educator myself, I have a couple of ideas to get you started thinking beyond just buying a book.

  • Ask for Recommendations – You are a teacher. The fact that you are out of your mind busy during the school year is a given. You can’t possibly keep up with all of the new books coming out every month. It is part of my job to keep track, and I still struggle! Book store owners are typically dialed in to new books, best-selling books, and books that aren’t as well-known but are oh so amazing (my favorite). So while you are absolutely welcome to browse to your heart’s content, if you have a tighter schedule, don’t be afraid to ask for a recommendation.

 

  • Ask About Educator Discounts – As teachers we have to make our pennies stretch as far as they possibly can, and a great way to do that is to ask about discounts. Some stores might provide discounts to educators who can show a work badge or other proof of employment. Others might offer teacher deals at certain times of the year. If no educator discount is available, ask about a rewards program – because you know you’re going to be a frequent customer. It’s OK. I have the same addiction.

 

  • Communicate Curriculum Topics – You know what you and the bookstore owner have in common? A love of books and a desire to share that love with young readers. By communicating to your local bookstore that next month you will be investigating natural selection, you enable the bookstore owner to have titles on hand to support your students, to display them in a prominent area, and to recommend them to parents. Maybe you can work together to set up a special display that rotates monthly and features books that support school curriculum topics. Be sure to communicate this partnership to parents and the wider school community! The bookstore owner will benefit from new and repeating customers, you will benefit from students extending their learning outside of class, and families will benefit from engaged, eager readers.

  • Request a Classroom Visit – Here’s an outside-of-the-box idea: ask the bookstore owner to visit your classroom to do a read aloud and make book recommendations. Not only does it introduce your students to new titles, it connects your classroom to the community, and it provides a point of contact so young students feel comfortable browsing in the local bookstore. Though most students won’t be able to buy books on their own, they can start dreaming about the personal libraries they would like to build in the future. (And maybe a few of those books will make it onto gift lists they share with adults in their lives.)

I wish I had a local bookstore near me. I live in a small, Iowa town, and my closest indie is an hour and a half drive from my home. So, if you have a local bookstore, please support it with your patronage, and while you are there, use some of the above suggestions to make an even closer connection.

October Book News

Middle Grade Authors

October presents middle-grade book enthusiasts with quite a few reasons to be excited. In addition to fall colors, cool breezes, and creative costumes, October gives us TeenTober, Read Aloud to a Child Week, and the announcement of National Book Award finalists.

TeenTober logo

It’s TeenTober!

TeenTober is a month-long observance being celebrated in libraries nationwide. It was created by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). According to YALSA, the goal is “to celebrate teens, promote year-round teen services and the innovative ways teen services helps teens learn new skills, and fuel their passions in and outside the library.” 

What can you do to celebrate TeenTober? Well, the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) has some ideas for you. If  you’re a librarian, teacher, or parent of middle and high school students, encourage them to do the following:

  • Join a book discussion group at their school or public library.
  • Read biographies of their favorite musicians, comedians, politicians, or sports figures.
  • Read books about a hobby that interests them.
  • Read books that approach a subject through humor.
  • Read what they want to read, just for the fun of it.
Read to Them logo

Read Aloud to a Child Week is October 20-26.

This event is sponsored by Read to Them, an organization whose goal is to encourage adults to read aloud to children. While this is a year-round goal, the organization has designated the last week in October each year as Read Aloud to a Child Week. 

This annual observance has been going on for 20 years, and according to Read to Them, it’s “a stress-free way for everyone to engage with the literacy community.” The organization’s website offers lots of resources, including a wealth of suggested titles for all ages, from preschoolers to middle schoolers.

Read Aloud to a Child Week raises awareness about the importance of reading to children, and it’s a great way to start a good habit that can lead to a lifetime of literacy. It’s also a good way to prepare for Children’s Book Week, which is just around the corner, November 4-10.

National Book Award Logo

National Book Award Finalists Have Been Announced.

The National Book Foundation has announced the five finalists for the National Book Award in each of its five categories. Established in 1950, the mission of this annual recognition is to “celebrate the best literature published in the United States, expand its audience, and ensure that books have a prominent place in our culture.” 

The five categories are Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature. Finalists each receive $1,000 and a bronze medal. The winners, announced in November, will receive $10,000, a bronze medal, and a statue. 

Drum roll, please. Here are the Finalists for Young People’s Literature:

Violet Duncan, Buffalo Dreamer
Nancy Paulsen Books / Penguin Random House

Josh Galarza, The Great Cool Ranch Dorito in the Sky
Henry Holt and Company (BYR) / Macmillan Publishers

Erin Entrada Kelly, The First State of Being
Greenwillow Books / HarperCollins Publishers

Shifa Saltagi Safadi, Kareem Between
G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers / Penguin Random House

Angela Shanté, The Unboxing of a Black Girl
Page Street Publishing

Congratulations to each finalist! We have just enough time to read these books and introduce them to young readers before the winner is announced on November 19.

Along with the fall colors, cool breezes, and creative costumes of October, we hope you are able to celebrate books with some young readers. Encourage a teen to use the library, read aloud to a child, and check out some award-worthy literature for young people. The season is fleeting – let’s spend it reading!

The Scholastic Book Fair Situation

Middle Grade Authors
There are few school events that children look forward to as much as the annual Scholastic Book Fair. Library shelves get moved aside, and a big truck shows up to deliver boxes and boxes and boxes filled with all kinds of books. Children are excited, parents are nostalgic, and schools reap the benefits of a time-honored tradition. What could possibly go wrong?
red rectangle, white letters, scholastic logo

Well, in our current climate, books are being challenged in every state across the nation. Individuals are being empowered to call for the removal of books from library shelves, and children are losing access to books that are representative of many members of our diverse population. And now, the time-honored tradition of Scholastic Book Fairs has succumbed to the pressure created by the vocal minority who challenge diverse books.

 

The Controversy

 

In response to the growing number of book challenges across the country, Scholastic made the decision to separate books dealing with racism and sexuality from the rest of their merchandise. When planning their book fairs, schools could decide whether to “opt in” or “opt out” of making diverse books available.

Change Sings Amanda Gorman cover

The books that have been separated from the general inventory are being lumped together in a special collection called “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice.” According to Publisher’s Weekly, there are 64 books in the collection. If schools opt out, students are denied access to books like Amanda Gorman’s Change Sings, Kwame Alexander’s Booked, Denise Lewis Patrick’s Justice Ketanji, and Michael Hall’s Red: A Crayon’s Story.

 

Many librarians complained, and public outrage followed. Writers and educators used their social media platforms to reprimand Scholastic for bowing to political pressure and restricting access to diverse books. PEN America released a statement decrying Scholastic’s actions. Red Wine and Blue, a group of moms who stand against book banning, is circulating a petition that asks Scholastic to return the books to their regular collection.

 

PEN America says that the issue is “driven by a vocal minority demanding censorship.” The organization tracks book bans and has documented a significant rise in the number of books being challenged and restricted. According to NPR, book challenges and bans are most prevalent in Texas, Florida, Missouri, Utah, and South Carolina. However, no state is immune to restrictions being placed upon books.

 

The Statement

 

In response to public outcry, Scholastic released a statement providing a rationale for their decision to allow schools to opt out of the “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice” collection. Among their reasons, Scholastic states the following:

There is now enacted or pending legislation in more than 30 U.S. states prohibiting certain kinds of books from being in schools – mostly LGBTQIA+ titles and books that engage with the presence of racism in our country. Because Scholastic Book Fairs are invited into schools, where books can be purchased by kids on their own, these laws create an almost impossible dilemma: back away from these titles or risk making teachers, librarians, and volunteers vulnerable to being fired, sued, or prosecuted.”

 

The main premise for their decision seems to be that book challenges are placing schools in a difficult position. In order to continue offering their popular book fairs, the company claims that they need to provide a way for schools to adhere to complex state and local laws. They acknowledge that this is not a perfect solution, but they claim that without the ability to opt out of certain books, schools would be unable to host book fairs.

 

The Reality

 

A fifth grade teacher in Georgia was recently fired because she shared a book about gender identity with her students. That book had been available at her school’s Scholastic Book Fair. A middle school teacher in Texas was fired for sharing a graphic novel about Anne Frank with her eighth grade students. A high school English teacher in Oklahoma received death threats after sharing a QR code with her students that enabled them to access the Brooklyn Public Library’s Books Unbanned project. 

a stack of books chained together

Teachers, librarians, and volunteers are being fired, sued, and threatened for sharing diverse books with their students. Scholastic claims they are trying to help schools navigate these threats and still provide book fairs that bring in needed funds and put books in the hands of children. Critics disagree.

 

Critics accuse Scholastic of putting profit over principle. They argue that publishers need to stand strong in support of their authors and books. Across social media platforms, there is a demand for Scholastic to reverse the opt-out option and support access to diverse books. After all, critics argue, if your goal is to truly “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice,” you cannot hide some stories and voices because a vocal minority denounces them.

 

The Alternatives

When we think of book fairs, we think of Scholastic. There’s a good reason for that. Over 100,000 Scholastic book fairs are hosted each year, and they provide schools with funds for books and other resources. Scholastic is so dominant in the book fair market that it’s difficult for many schools to find viable options. However, outrage over the isolation of the “Share Every Story, Celebrate Every Voice” collection has caused many librarians to look beyond Scholastic for book fair options.

 

While Scholastic is definitely the biggest player in the book fair market, there are other booksellers that host book fairs, including Literati and Barnes and Noble. Many publishers also host book fairs, but their collections might be more limited than what is offered by Scholastic.

shelves with books, red seats, people reading

Another option is the independent book store. During recent years, indie bookstores have seen a rise in popularity, and their followers have a deep sense of loyalty. Communities embrace them because they are known for promoting the open exchange of ideas and contributing to the local economy. They also usually provide access to a diverse collection of books and make their services available to local schools. 

 

Now, many communities are turning to their local bookstores as an option to book fairs hosted by the publishing giant. Independent bookstores have strong ties to their neighbors and understand the culture and needs of their communities. The personal attention they can offer is leading many librarians and schools to partner with their local indie bookstores. The indie alternative offers a personalized approach to hosting a book fair and a way to take a stand against Scholastic’s decision to give libraries and schools the choice to opt-out of including diverse books.