Dear Maggie —

I noticed a brightly colored poster on the Lawrence door yesterday, and as I looked closer to see what it was for, I realized it was for the Book Fair.  I simultaneously felt utter glee and utter dread – glee because it’s the SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR (what’s not to love) and dread because every year I drop the ball, and it sneaks up on me, and then I’m scrambling to send my kids with cash the morning of.  I know there’s some sort of digital wallet, but have never gotten my ducks in a row in order to get that sorted out.  The last time I sent my daughter somewhere with a $20 bill, she tore it in half because she was “sharing it with her friend”. 😬 #IAmLookingAtYouLydiaEhlman  So I certainly can’t do that again!  In an attempt to get my life in order, I’m reaching out to you; please give me the details of the book fair and any options I may have to send virtual cash with my kids to pay for all their treasures.

— Mismanaged Molly

Dear Mismanaged —

It’s your lucky day! Turns out I am VERY close with one of the librarians 😉, so I’ve got aaalll the deets!  Let me tell you, those ladies have been squealing with glee about the book fair for weeks, so you’re not alone in your excitement!  Turns out that little library down there is in the 10% of Scholastic Book Fair sales, nationally.  Not only do they run a superb library, but they are killing it in the book fair world as well.  The best part about being in the top 10% – more tchotchkes!!  SO. MANY. MORE. TCHOTCHKES.  There will be no shortage of Mickey Mouse(esque) pointer fingers, edible calculators, Hello Kitty posters, or pens so large no one could reasonably write a single letter while comfortably holding it. 

I’m about to have my “I walked uphill both ways in 2 feet of snow to school” moment, BUT when I was in school, we didn’t have the Scholastic Book Fair.  All we had was the Ye Old Stone Tablet Expo.  I’d like to say we invented the Lucky Rabbit’s Foot, but you had to kill the rabbit yourself to get the foot.  Upon reflection, that feels quite ‘unlucky’ to me! 😒 Oh, you wanted a fuzzy diary (that has 0% chance of the key even making it home)?!  Good luck!  All we got was a sheep pelt and a half burnt match stick to use to scrawl our thoughts down.  There were also soooooo many stones – granite stones, smooth stones, jagged stones, just lots of rocks. Strange.  But then again, most things we did back then feel strange nowadays.

Alright, now I am going to step off of my soap box and give you the answers to all of your Book Fair queries.  First things first, the Book Fair is next week, April 1st-3rd, with an evening event on Thursday from 3:00 to 6:30pm in the gym.  You are correct in thinking that there is a digital wallet option available.  Honestly, it is a dream for everyone involved!  The kids are in charge of any real money and subsequently sad when they lose it.  The teachers aren’t trying to keep track of whose $5 bill is whose.  The librarians can easily access every kid’s eWallet and make payment seamless.  It’s a win-win-win!

Next, I’m going to share what may be considered the greatest parenting hack; send this link to all the grandparents!**  It’s the link to put money on your kids’ eWallet, and when they hear it’s for the book fair, odds are they’ll load that puppy up (no need to mention the many, many tchotchkes).  Now you are off the hook for at least one $20 request that comes in every week! 

You’ve 5 days to get your ducks in a row, and maybe if you’re lucky, someone will buy you a rubber ducky at the book fair!  Happy Book Fair week to all those who celebrate!

— Maggie

** Once you log in and create the eWallet, there will be an Invite Friends & Family link.  That will bring them directly to that child’s eWallet page.  They can add funds from that page.