Kentuckians and Hoosiers Share Nostalgic Memories of Scholastic Book Fair

Every year the week before Thanksgiving, my son's school, Sutton Elementary, hosts the Scholastic Book Fair. Walking into the library to see those big metal cases, stacks of books, sports car posters, and bookmarks with cute animals brings back some serious nostalgia for me.

I was a total bookworm growing up (I still am!) and now Rollins is too. There is nothing better than curling up with a good story and diving in. I have to credit the excitement of the book fairs past and present for our bookshelves full of favorites here at our home. I know we're not alone!

So many folks have fond memories of visiting their school's annual sale and either adding to their wish lists or taking home the new addition to their favorite series like Babysitter's Club, Animorphs, Goosebumps, and many more. Some of my friends shared stories of their most memorable book fair moments.

Mercedez Varble of Whitesville told me this sweet story about a gift she bought at the book fair.

"One time I bought my dad this arrowhead necklace…it was gold and the arrowhead was kinda sparkly. lol I thought it was cool. Anyway…I’m pretty sure he still has it"

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Kyle Miller of Evansville was inspired by a famous hip-hop star to foster a love for reading.

I had this awesome poster with Mc Hammer on it that said “Hammer Time is reading Time”.

Libby Champion of Louisville had a book fair moment that made her decide who she wanted to be when she grew up.

"I brought all my change from my piggy bank to get a Pokémon book I really wanted, but fell short. I was devastated but had to move out of line fast bc my class was running out of time to check out. I was about to go back to class when my teacher ended up purchasing it for me and returning all of my change. She was one of the reasons I wanted to be a teacher!!!"

Dana Jordan McFelea was in elementary school before book fairs were a thing, but she still remembers getting new books from Scholastic.

"When I was in grade school we never had book sales. We were all given the Scholastic order form. Books were always paperback and never over $1.50. I remember my mom letting me buy "The Mouse and the Motorcycle and a "Boxcar Children" book."

Christa Clark of Owensboro's favorite book fair memory isn't from childhood, but she loves being part of the excitement!

"Not as a kid but when I first started working I got to dress up as Clifford during the Sutton book fair, so much fun!"

Kelsey Minton's story has to be one of the most meaningful I've heard.

"Once I really really really wanted a book from the book fair and I didn't have enough money to get it. I was so disappointed. So the school librarian ordered it for me and later gifted it to me. I still have this book; Mary, Bloody Mary. I looked at the price of the book for the first time today, $3.99. So for $4, she made a lasting impression on my life. I'm pretty sure she was like, I gotta get this little nerd this book. Everyone else is buying posters and she's pouting because she wanted to read about the Tudors."

Billy Hardesty shared a couple of books that had lasting impacts on him.

"This book and the many like it that came after, but this was the first book that introduced compositing to me as a child even though it didn't expressly mention it."

He also mentioned this iconic book that has since been made into a movie with its terrifying illustrations that were even scarier than the stories inside. The story about the dog licking the girl's hand as she slept...scarred for life! I bet you remember this book and at least one story from it scared the bejesus out of you too! I still have my old copy and gave it to Rollins to read. He didn't make it very far before being too creeped out to continue.

Kali Mattingly is passing on her love of books to her daughter. It all started at her school's Scholastic Book Fair.

"It's where I got my first Harry Potter book! My dad got it for me, but it was a few years reading level over my current grade, so he had to read the book first before I could to make sure it didn't have anything I shouldn't read. He read it in a day. Then, as each one came out, he would read the whole thing in a day, then pass it on to me. He helped nourish and inspire my love of reading, I can't wait to do the same with my daughter."

Kristen Carter Hinson may have been the luckiest elementary school kid ever.

"I loved the book fair! My mom worked in the school library so I would get to look at everything first and help her open up everything. There was nothing much cooler to me in elementary school than being able to unlock and slide open the big metal containers the books came in to see which new Goosebump books would be inside."

Here is an awesome trailer of the Scholastic Book Fair from the late 90s. It's a totally cheesy blast from the past! Do you have any good memories from your school's book fair? Share them with us on the WBKR App Chat!