Join us for the 2023 MES Book Fair!

Supporting a love for reading is critical to student success. In 2023-2024, we are excited to continue our partnership with Literati for an In-Person Book Fair and a simultaneous Electronic Book Fair. There will be hundreds of titles to engage our avid readers and inspire our emerging readers - picture books to leveled readers, chapter books to graphics novels, and of course, all of the current best sellers!

Date: September 18 - 22, 2023

Location: Amy Snowden Mather Library at MES

As always, proceeds from the Book Fair support the MES Library.

2023 Book Fair Details

When to Shop

• During School Hours Monday - Thursday: Students visit the Book Fair twice with their class during school hours (schedule below). Caretakers are welcome to join their students during their scheduled Book Fair class times or shop anytime without their student.
• Outside School Hours: Wednesday, September 20th, from 2:45 - 6:30 p.m. and Friday, September 22nd, from 7:15 - 7:45 a.m.
• Friday, September 22nd: Open shopping until 10:00 a.m. Students may shop with teacher permission but caretakers can come anytime up until 10am.
• Simultaneously, an Electronic Book Fair will be open until September 22, 2023. Search for "Morningside Elementary School" and then start shopping! Anything purchased from the Electronic Book Fair will be shipped to the school the week after the In-Person Book Fair and delivered to students in their classroom.

What is Browse Day?

During the first of their two visits with their class, students are BROWSING. They are given a sheet of paper called a Browse Sheet to write down which books they are interested in. The intent is to build excitement and provide information for home discussions beefore bringing in money for "Buy Day".

If the Browse Sheet does not make it home, or is otherwise unreadable, please visit the Electronic Book Fair to gauge book prices.

What is Buy Day?

During the second of the two visits with their class, students are buying from the Book Fair. Not every student is purchasing books at this time, as some families may choose to shop the Electronic Book Fair, shop outside of school hours, or not shop at all.

If you prefer not to send payment in with your student, you can shop with your student during the class shopping time, you can come to the Book Fair Tuesday after school or Friday before school, or you can shop at the Electronic Book Fair. Anything purchased from the Electronic Book Fair will be shipped to the school the week after the In-Person Book Fair and delivered to students in their classroom.

Sometimes, a specific book written on a students' Browse Sheet is not in stock on Buy Day. If that happens, you still have some options:

• It is likely for sale on the Electronic Book Fair.
• It might be replenished during the week, so check back!
• There is a lot of variety at this book fair. Students always find comparable items if their exact book is no longer in stock.

Payment for the In-Person Book Fair

We will be accepting several forms of payment for the Book Fair:

• Cash
• Gift cards purchased at the simultaneous Electronic Book Fair. The gift card can be printed out at home and brought to school. Any remaining balance can be redeemed at Literati's website, but cannot be refunded.
• Major credit cards
• Checks made out to MES PTA; note that no change can be given from a check. This is the least preferred method. Please consider the previous three methods of payments or purchase from the Electronic Book Fair if at all possible instead of using a check.

Buy a Book for a Class Library

Visit the Teacher Book Bins at the Book Fair! These bins will be full of book titles selected by each teacher that will enhance their classroom library. Consider purchasing a book from a bin for a classroom library.

Donations

Want to extend the Book Fair love a little further this year? Consider an additional donation:

• Keep the change: Cash donations taken at the register help support the cost of book vouchers.
• Donate outgrown books: Back by popular demand! Make room on your shelves for new books by donating ones that your family has outgrown! Children Read Atlanta is a 501c3 that collects and repairs new and used books for children and then distributes them to kids in PreK classrooms of Title 1 Atlanta Public Schools and Dekalb County Schools, in addition to those in Head Start, Sheltering Arms, and other early learning programs serving lower income families. To contribute, simply drop your old books in a box set up at the Book Fair. For more questions about this initiative, please contact Marla Johnson.

Volunteering

We need your help to run the Book Fair! We are looking for volunteers to help students find books and check out. A SignUp Genius will be posted here and sent through the Digital Dolphin soon!

Book Vouchers

As in past years, vouchers will be available for students who may need assistance purchasing books. The voucher distribution process will be coordinated through Mr. LaSalle, the school social worker. Teachers or parents/guardians who would like to request vouchers on behalf of certain students should contact Mr. LaSalle for more information about the voucher process.

2023 Browse and Buy Schedule

Please use the schedule below to determine the Browse and Buy Days for your students' classes:

Any questions? Contact the PTA Book Fair Co-Chairs: Anne-Marie DeBacker and Stephanie Mayfield