Help. Our librarian just told me she was moving the fall book fair date up and now it is in 3 weeks. We were hoping to do a new "read night" for the families with local celebrities coming in to read to the families but now with such short notice we won't be able to do that until the spring. We usually do muffins with mom and donuts with dad but would like to try something new. Anyone have idea's for us? If we run out of time we will go to pastries with parents but would love to try something new for our school. Please Please respond with your idea's about what your school does and we can pull off in a short amount of time.
Thank you so much!

We let the kids spin a wheel once for each book (actual book, not pencils, etc.) they buy. The wheel has various prizes, like pencils, erasers, bookmark, piece of candy, book (donated or old library), poster (left over from last book fair samples,) treasure box of misc items (crayons, coloring books, small toys.)

The could pick a straw using a color code or papers or whatever, same concept.

One time we did a family night with games, and that sounds like it might be too much for you to pull together in such a short time, so I was thinking of one particular thing we did during that event: I created a fill-in-the-blank story and we set up areas in the cafeteria where families could sit down and fill in the story and then make a cover and artwork if they wanted. It was lots of fun for the families and I know the one I did with my kids was hilarious as were some others I read. I wrote the story to fit with the event that was happening and left lots of blanks for names so the stories would be personalized and verbs and adjectives so the kids could get some really silly things going.

You could also offer the opportunity to create their own bookmarks and/or decorate pencils. I've found ideas in the Family Fun magazine and at their website and I created some bookmark ideas on my own too. All you would need to do is purchase the supplies, lay out copies of instructions on how to complete the project and have a couple of volunteers who just wander around and refill as supplies run low.

How about having the students dress up as their favorite literary character. You can take pictures and maybe give out prizes or trophies for various categories.

PresidentJim

If it's an evening event maybe offer some type of entertainment puppet show, magician etc. The kids can watch the show while the parents may wnt to shop? Just a thought.

we usually try to include grandparents in the Book Fairs--maybe go that direction