Top tips on holding a school book fair

Organising a school book fair is a brilliant way to encourage a love of reading, celebrate World Book Day, and raise funds for your school or library. Here’s how you can make your book fair fun, engaging, and successful.

Plan Ahead 

Set your goals: Decide what you want to achieve – is it all about getting students excited about reading, raising funds, or a mix of both?

Pick the right date: Holding your book fair around a special event, like World Book Day, can add extra excitement. Choose a date and time when students, parents, and teachers are more likely to attend. Parents’ evenings or other times that parents will be in school anyway can be a good option. You might also think about offering books as part of the PTA’s summer or winter fair.

Partner with an Independent Usborne Partner: Working with an Independent Usborne Partner is a fantastic way to take the stress out of your event. We’ll help you promote the event, organize and provide a good selection of books your students will love, and often provide promotional materials. Plus you’ll earn free books for your school, depending on how much is raised. 

Spread the Word

Get everyone excited: Create colourful posters, share the details in newsletters, and make sure it’s mentioned in school assemblies. Don’t forget to use social media to let parents know too!

Themes are fun!: Adding a theme to your book fair can make it feel extra special. Try something like “Reading Takes You on Adventures” or “Books Around the World.” If it’s close to World Book Day, tie the fair into that celebration – it’s a perfect opportunity for kids to spend their World Book Day vouchers!

Engage the Whole School Community

Involve teachers: Some schools have had success creating wish lists for their classrooms, and encourage parents to buy books from those lists as a donation. 

Family shopping: If possible, extend the hours to allow families to come in after school.

Get students to help: Older pupils can act as ‘reading ambassadors’ to assist younger children in selecting books or help manage different stations at the fair.

Maximise the Fun

Add extra activities: Alongside selling books, why not hold a book swap, a storytelling session, or a fun reading quiz to get everyone engaged?

Offer author visits: If budget allows, inviting a local author or illustrator for a reading or book signing adds a special touch to your book fair.

After the Fair

Say thank you: Don’t forget to thank everyone involved – from volunteers to the families who attended. A thank-you note or post on the school’s website or newsletter is a nice touch. 

Celebrate success: Let the school community know how much was raised or how many books were donated. Sharing photos and highlights from the event helps spread the word and build excitement for future fairs.

Reflect and improve: After the fair, take a moment to review what worked well and what could be better next time. Did the layout flow smoothly? Was there enough variety in the book selection?

The Value of an Usborne Partner

Working with an Independent Usborne Partner brings several benefits. Not only do they provide access to an incredible range of Usborne books that are perfect for different age groups and interests, but you also get a more personalised service. Independent Usborne Partners can guide you through the process, help you promote the event, and offer exclusive rewards and book deals for your school, including free books depending on how much is raised!

With some thoughtful planning and a dash of creativity, your book fair will be an event that students, teachers, and families look forward to year after year.