When I was a kid I loved the book orders we got from school. I can still remember how exciting it was to get them from the teacher and flip through the tissue-paper-thin pages looking at all of the glorious, inexpensive books. My mom has always loved reading too so she would let me get as many as I wanted. I was so grateful because it was hard to choose only one. And the day my teacher would hand me my pile of new titles, with my order form slipped between the pages…I was always so happy! If I recall correctly the book orders stopped being passed out our freshman year. I missed them but I never was at a loss for reading material. I was sharing most of my mom’s books by then and I also had plenty of other people boys things to keep me occupied as well.
When my own kids started bringing home book orders from school it was fun all over again! They loved it and so did I. Unfortunately they lost interest in them sooner than I did. By middle school they were playing sports and they were starting to have other interests as well. It probably wasn’t cool anymore either. I even asked the boys to bring them home to me so I could pick out some books but they didn’t care for that idea. I might actually make them read something. Oh the horror! Oh well, we had a few more good years together anyway, my book orders and I.
So, I was just wondering what were some of your favorite childhood memories that involved reading? Did you get book orders too? I can’t remember what my first experiences were with books but they must have been good. How about you?
Posts
I loved books and book orders. We didn't get into town to the library very often. This is a funny post because right before I checked out your site this morning I was going over my book order. I am a teacher of middle school and I still get excited about the book and the orders. I work in a Title I school and therefore a lot of my students can't afford books. I have them make "suggestions" for books they want to read that I can buy and put on my shelves and then I "accidently" buy and second one to give to them. This allows them to save face and gives me great pleasure. I teach intensive reading so if I can turn one child on to reading then it is so worth it. Thanks for this post, the timing was so right.
ReplyDeleteThis post brought me right back in time to going with my mother to the First National ( grocery store) and by the door was a rack with the Little Golden Books displayed for .10 each. Yes, ten cents! Really, I am that old. There were no book orders in school when I attended. Each week my mother would let me pick out a book. Oh, the joy! Thanks for bringing back the memories.
ReplyDeleteI loved those book orders too! I also loved helping out in the library!
ReplyDeleteI loved the book orders! I had stacks and stacks of books from them. Both of my kids did too while in elementary school. Between the two they also had stacks upon stacks.
ReplyDeleteOh I love book orders! Still do. In our preschools I still get to flip through these. I have to restrain myself from ordering more. It's insane the amount of children's books I have...and no children. You may think I'm weird, but I love the smell of those order forms.
ReplyDeleteFavorite memory? I would always get sidetracked when I was getting ready in the morning readin a book. It used to take me more than 2 hours to get ready because I had my nose in a book the whole time, sometimes to the detriment of my hair getting done...drove my mom insane!
O I LOVE when the Scholastic book fair would come to my school. I use to BEG my mami for a little dough and browse for hours.
ReplyDeleteI loved those thin pages of books too! The Scholatic Book Fair was a favorite. I think we stopped having them in 7th grade :(
ReplyDeleteIn junior high, every payday, my dad would give me $5 to walk to the bookstore to buy a book - sometimes two! My dad doesn't like to read, so I'll always be thankful that he supported my favorite hobby.
I loved the book orders too. Some of my favorite childhood books came from those orders! The prices on the books were awesome!
ReplyDeleteI used to love the Scholastic orders, too! My kids did them pretty regularly through the 5th grade.
ReplyDeleteI loved the book orders, too. I remember our old library had the greatest kids section. We actually took my sister-in-law there a few months ago, just to see it again.
ReplyDeleteI remember the book orders! Sadly, my dad would never order them for me. It may have been because by the time I got home, most of the books were starred as wants. I did get to participate in RIF which was once a month I believe and I loved it!
ReplyDeleteI remember book orders. But I think we only had them in grade school.
ReplyDeleteI used to love when I was home sick and my mom would go to the library and take out tons of Nancy Drew books for me. Of course I never wanted to go back to school.
Even now, I love to play hooky from work and stay in bed and read. (don't tell my boss)
I remember getting book orders that was one of the highlights of the month for me. I started reading the Little House on the Prairie series when I was in grade school and I still love them today.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I gave you a shoutout on my blog today.
http://debsbookbag.blogspot.com/2010/02/giveaway-saturday-8.html
I was always allowed to get 3 books and one poster. My walls were covered with those kitty and puppy posters!!
ReplyDeleteCount me in! I loved those book orders back in the day, always ordered several--and posters, too! Even then, I was a library junkie, I've always had a library stack o' books near me as long as I can remember...my two teenage hooligans have this attraction to books, as well.
ReplyDelete~