The red scholastic bookshelves, holding books and school supplies, are located at the back of the Watauga High School library. Photo Cred: Mason Gover, Watauga Publishing
Mason Grover, Staff Writer to The Powderhorn
From pens and notepads to colorful erasers and quirky pointers, the Scholastic Book Fair has always offered a chance to indulge in school supplies that feel more like treasures than tools. Since 1929, these book fairs have provided an opportunity to browse an exciting selection of books and explore all the fun trinkets on display.
The Scholastic Book Fair primarily targets K-8 schools, so as students get older and transition to high school, the excitement of browsing bookshelves, picking out a new book, and checking out all the cool school supplies often fades.
Thanks to Ms. Lowery, however, the thrilling experience of the Scholastic Book Fair was brought to the high school. With a nostalgic theme in mind, students would walk into the school media center and see the familiar red shelves stacked with books and trinkets, reminding them of their elementary school days.
“I just think it would be fun to do sort of a flashback of remembering when you were a kid,” said Lowry. “I am just really having the event to have fun, and now I feel like we need it even more with the hurricane. It's just right, let's have some happy moments.”
Recreating this nostalgic experience was relatively simple and a joy for Lowery and students alike. Scholastic provided her with a cash register and restocked shelves. Her main task was to unpack the boxes and arrange the books on the tables.
As Lowry was taking joy in bringing back the book fair, her favorite part was not the books, but the school supplies Scholastic offered.
“The toys make me excited,” said Lowery. “I mean, I love the books, they're beautiful, but nowadays, luckily in your time period, you get to go to bookstores like Barnes and Noble, to Books a Million and already see these fantastic books with glorious, beautiful covers.”
The goal is to rekindle fond childhood memories, especially after the hardships caused by Hurricane Helene. Since Scholastic tends to avoid selling many adult titles due to concerns about censorship, the book fair was modeled after the elementary school experience, filled with beloved childhood books and colorful accessories.
Lowery has added posters showing what was popular during the years students were born, highlighting how much things have changed over the years in terms of inflation, pop culture, and stylistic trends.
As inflation has become a growing topic of concern, some wonder if it would affect the prices of the original books and accessories of the new book fair.
“There's some things that are pretty good on the pricing,” said Lowery. “Scholastic dictates the prices, having some books that are cheaper than others. Posters are five dollars but it's pretty heavy duty. We’re using Google and Apple Pay so I think that'll be good for people that don't want to bring a lot of change.”
With prices being relatively reasonable, there are fewer worries about affording books and school supplies. This helps restore a sense of excitement and possibility, allowing students to once again enjoy the simple pleasure of picking out something new without the financial concern that often comes with rising costs.
The book fair offers a much-needed moment of relief, allowing students to step back and breathe amidst the pressures of both academic demands and the personal hardships that have recently weighed heavily on Boone. Much like in elementary school, when the book fair provided a welcome break from the routine of schoolwork, it now serves as a comforting pause from life’s challenges. It’s a reminder that even in difficult times, taking a moment to enjoy something as simple as browsing books can bring a sense of normalcy and calm, a chance to recharge, refocus, and find a bit of joy amidst the chaos.
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