There's no doubt that elementary school was a simpler time with its brown bag lunches, gel pens, and recess. Those were the years when someone read to you and time was set aside for you every day to browse the library and read independently. Of course, we found our own grade school drama back then, but looking back now, it was such a great time.
And all that reading time? Supplemented by those amazing monthly academic ads. After everyone had taken one and passed it around, they were distracted for at least 10 minutes by the contents of these magical flyers. Books, crafts, toys! The possibilities are endless and you go home with hope.
What's even better than that , however, is when these flyers come to life before your eyes. I’m talking about the wonderland of elementary school – the Scholastic Book Fair. All the books and toys in the catalog are laid out in front of you, and the money your parents gave you is carefully stuffed in your pocket.
The possibilities are endless for us 8-year-olds, but one thing is for sure: we rarely do it just for the books. It’s everything else that piques our interest, like these 10 things we still kind of miss!
possibility
Going to school on book fair day is always more fun than usual: you know what's going to happen next! Something to break up the day between social studies and math.
Novel changes in the classroom
A boring auditorium or classroom, usually used for the most mundane school activities, is transformed into a book mall, ready and waiting for you! Look how beautiful it looks like this!
"Technology" in the 1990s
Or "gadgets" as we understood them in our 1990s minds. We don’t have an Apple Watch, but then again, we don’t need any of that: there are boxes of keychains, stationery, and anything else an elementary school kid might (or might not) need. Some things are only available at academic book fairs. Like the triangle pencil grip you lost after that day.
All Posters
You didn't know your room was missing a kitten poster, but then you saw one. Suddenly you have to have one! Also, is that a Harry Potter poster over there? ! The selection is vast and suddenly everything looks like it was made for you. It's like they knew they were dealing with elementary school students or something.
your friends may be there
If you get there at the same time as a friend from another class, that's like an added bonus. A midday party before lunch? Yes!
Lots of horror books
Book fairs are always the place to buy Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and Goosebumps books, which you inevitably end up reading in a group of people, completely pretending you're not scared. Until you go to bed that night, of course. Come to think of it, most of us are probably still afraid of these books.
A treasure trove of pens and pencils
Pens, pencils, erasers, pencil sharpeners of all shapes and sizes—it’s all there, neatly arranged in boxes, just waiting for you. In fact, if you ask someone what they remember most about book fairs as a child, I can guarantee that "cool pens and pencils" will come up more than any other answer.
bookmark
So many bookmarks, so little time. The books you buy may not even be long enough to need bookmarks, but you know you bought them anyway.
Cool study kit
When these things came out, everyone became a scientist.
Arts & Crafts
Coloring books, sticker books, watercolor books, you name it, they have it.
Photo Credit: Cindy Kilpatrick , Samantha Tarldona Setzler /Flickr; Academic (3) Jiffy (7)
