Book Fair Book Buzz

Book Fair has come and gone, but the memories linger. It was a great week, and it was such an awesome thing to watch the kids get so excited and happy over all the books! My parent volunteers are so awesome, and I cannot thank them enough.

After watching our entire community come through the Book Fair, I am sure of this:  We DO love books!

On one of the set-up days, as our volunteers unpacked the boxes, and set up the cases, I saw them pulling out this book:

Telgemeier, R. (2014). Sisters. New York: Scholastic.

I knew this one was going to go rather fast, but I had no idea. We were sold out the first day, and then called in for more. But none arrived.  A second call for an order yielded nothing still. Scholastic told us there weren't any to be found in any warehouse in our area.I didn't give up, though. I managed to get a few from a nearby library in my district also holding their book fair. Those sold, too. Within the half hour! 

So then I knew. I knew this book was big.

Actually, I knew this when I read it in April at TLA.

And when I offered a checkout drawing to see who who would be the first readers to check out the book and I had 20 sign up for five copies.

And, okay, I see it every time readers come into the library to check out the hold shelf and wonder when they're getting the book. (The holds continue. Each time I'm at the bookstore, I'm tempted to buy more.)  And I see it every day when another reader asks if we have a copy of SMILE on the shelves.

I thought about how those who weren't asking for the title benefited from the buzz, too. They got to see what how  excited some can be over books, and that is great, isn't it? Hopefully, it helps them WANT to find the book that would make them that excited, too. I want everyone to know what this is like! I get excited over books just about every hour of every day!!! 

One book can make readers want another. Reader-to-reader book buzz is powerful. How can I recreate that? Hmmm. 

Yes, the Book Fair is gone, but I'm left with memories and inspiration.

I made this Animoto about it. I hope you enjoy watching.