Bookfair

[SummerS]

I am a librarian/computer teacher,I am looking for a different book fair company. what book fair company do you use.I had always used scholastic for our bookfair. I will not be using them again, and here is my reason:

This year I am finding out that they publish the books the golden compass and those books are very anti-christian, anti catholic, anti God. there is also a movie, which you need to warn the kids about. the books are a series and get progressively worse. I am against all of this and will not be using scholastic for my book fair.

 

[yesteach]

hmmm....

It's nice to know that censorship is alive and well in the public school system... or are you a private school?

Also, depending on what level school you are.. I'd think those books shouldn't even be available... they're written for young adults, not children.

 

[mshelbyk]

Usborne

What about Usborne books? They do bookfairs, too!
http://www.ubah.com/FreeBooks.aspx?loc=bf

 

[sw]

Book Fair

Barnes and Noble will do a fair for you.

 

[Teddi9192]

Usborne are very expensive

only use if you live in a wealthy area. Alos some of the books are not really age appropriate. I bought a book for my class and it had a large section on reproduction for a third grade book.

 

[NJ Teacher]

Book Fair

We recently used a company called All Books. I was not overly impressed with them, because their selection seemed more limited than Scholastic, or the local bookstore we also have used. I would not recommend them.

 

[jen517]

Scholastic was wonderful this year. It had the best selection I've seen of good books this year. I would reconsider. Is it your right to choose the book fair provider based on your own views and religious beliefs? Are you allowed to "warn" kids about a movie at your school based on your religious views? I am not able to do that and never have felt the need to. I feel as though that is a family decision, not yours. I will be honest~ I've never heard of these books..so I can offer no opinion on content but- I am a Christian and reading a book doesn't change my mind. It wouldn't have as a child either, I am strong in my faith. This is just my opinion.

 

[MrChapp]

I doubt you'll find a better selection with better prices than Scholastic. Not to mention the money the school gets out of it. You could try Barnes and Noble, but I imagine they'd carry those books as well. I'm not familiar with the series, but I've heard the controversy. From what little I've heard, most people didn't even catch the religious thing until the author made a big deal out of it (trying to drum up more attention, no doubt).

I agree that, unless you are at a private school, it is not really your right to decide what kids read or see based on religious beliefs. Not every family is going to share your views on religion, books, and movies.

I'd be interested to know your admininstrator's point of view on this, especially if you are in a public school.

 

[SusaninNJ]

Book Fairs

I'm saddened to read this post. I love Phillip Pullman's work.

A Catholic against censorship

 

[blcw]

drumming up controversity

Maybe the original poster just wants to "scare" readers into not reading the series. It's not a new series, it's been around for at least 5 years. My daughter read it, and loved it. The book didn't change her religious views, it would take more than a work of fiction to do that. What she did enjoy was the well written and developed characters, including a strong female who is smart and brave, a plot that kept her engaged, and excellent vocabulary .

Snopes.com has some good information on the series and author.

I'm glad SummerS is not a librarian in my system, she may have refused to have Captain Underpants in her library and he's my favorite for reluctant boy readers!

blcw

 

[SummerS]

thanks for all the replies and everyone's views about this.

I am in a parochial school, and my principal supports my decision.

I am in the process of using usborne for a bookfair.

p.s. I do have captain underpants in my library.. I don't mind harmless fun, but for kids who are very impressionable, I believe a book or movie would influence them. also the catholic league published a pamphlet about this movie and books.

I hope more people would stand up for their beliefs, and not be complacent.