I love to buy children's books. Fortunately I didn't discover this potentially creepy passion until I was a teacher and had an excuse. Now that I am a parent my excuse is twice as big (as is my ass, but that's another post). Mostly my passion comes into play at the library's used book sales, cute book stores and my obsession with my kids' Amazon wishlists. But then Ironflower started kindergarten.
Kindergarten means Scholastic book orders, baby.
The prices were so good. I knew it would help the teacher get books for Ironflower's classroom (not that she needs any, honestly, that classroom is amazing). And Ironflower would get the fun of getting new books every month. Not that I really let her pick out the books, but I do make sure that there's at least 1 book that each kid will especially like. I'm a giver.
Scholastic publishes so many wonderful books. I mean I'd be grateful to them for Harry Potter
and Katniss Everdeen
anyway, but my kids love all the photographic non-fiction and classics too. And Scooby-Doo phonics (see? I told you I pick out books the kids will like. Even if it makes me cringe). This month, though, our finances are really, really, really, tight. Like tomorrow I head back to the content-factory tight.So why I am still staring at the Scholastic book order?
It's not like my kids don't have plenty of books. And trips to the library. Surely we could skip it for a month. Then I had this image of Ironflower being the ONLY kid in her class not getting books when the orders came in (this is completely realistic, not me being dramatic).
And then I got pissed.
I've been had. This is what Scholastic is counting on. Sure, they might say that they're just trying to give every kid the opportunity to buy books. But I used to teach in the hood. I hardly ever had even ONE kid order books. So no, they're not bringing opportunity to the masses. They're guilt-tripping the broke parents and the busy parents. They are exploiting our love for our children by making us buy their books every month.
Fucking brilliant.
Oh, and evil.
At 20 I would have organized a protest about this. At not yet 40, I think, "Well, at least they're not poisoning us or giving Michele Bachmann money." I'll rebel in my own quiet way - I'm NOT going to be guilt-tripped into ordering books this month. "Book orders are whack!" I'll yell when Ironflower asks me about it.
Next month will be a different story. It's very hard to get over crack, you know.
9 comments:
I'm right there with you. My kid begs me to order books and I never do because I can order them from Evil Amazon (often for less) and they arrive right at my door within 2 days. The only time I cave is when there is a Book Fair at school -- I will buy the books that the teachers have put on wish lists for their classrooms. I'm not completely heartless.
I never order, actually, not since I noticed a few years ago that I'd been paying and never receiving the books! Probably due to the ineptitude of whatever parent volunteer was in charge of it, but whatever - this is one little PITA that I don't need in my life.
My son was not interested in reading until sixth grade. I had almost given up hope that he would join my daughters in the love of reading. We love books wherever we can get 'em and I've found that sometimes they have great deals at Scholastic. That said, I am currently feeling the pain of our family income split in half and rising gas prices to boot, so yeah, maybe step back and use the library for a while, no guilt.
You may already know of these great recommendation tools but indiebound.org has great suggestions for books for kids AND adults and Bookmarks magazine is wonderful too. For all your spare time, ha ha. Happy reading!
@Themomsmith - The book fair just about killed me. So many books! I am so glad I'm not the only one not ordering my kid books.
@Lisa - That's awful! I don't blame you for not ordering.
@cran - The library is definitely one of our favorite places. I knew about Bookmarks but not indiebound - will have to visit when I'm procrastinating!
@Jazzie - Thanks for coming by.
I love scholastic...to a point. I loved it as a kid and as a homeschool family, I got an account. I use scholastic as my christmas shopping throughout the year for books for all the cousins. I only order the "cheapies" or a set that I can break up among several kids. this way I can buy a few books throughout the year and not spend a lot all at once on all the kiddos. and it's for something good. I have noticed though the prices rising at scholastic, but they still have some good deals. the book fairs-I always thought they were overpriced....but every so often, it does everyone good to protest the "whack" in life
When the soccerboy was in grade school and even in jr high we bought the books at the school book fair every time. Spent loads of money on books that he just had to have.
Now cause he is forced to read at school he no longer enjoys it. They have taken the enjoyment away by making it a requirement.
We no longer buyn books at school but I do belong to a book club and order lots thru it. and on occasion I stop by Barnes and Noble and pu a few.
I'm a little behind on my blog reading so just getting to this.
Yeah, so totally agree with you on the manipulation of guilt and child anticipation of book delivery day. Thank the gods my kids are older now and are satisfied with a trip to B&N.
Scholastic is a bunch of a pushers, fo'sure
You may already know of these great recommendation tools but indiebound.org has great suggestions for books for kids AND adults and Bookmarks magazine is wonderful too. For all your spare time, ha ha. Happy reading!
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