Your Literate Little Ones

Posted by BJ and Shalene in

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With the first day of school either just behind us or looming quite near, we find our thoughts naturally turning toward academia. So to commemorate the start of this school year, consider stocking your little one's bookshelves with a collection of page-turners that might inspire a lifetime love of reading. And rather than breaking the bank to do it, we love the brilliant idea of an old-fashioned book exchange.

To help get you started, we've included (below) a copy of a letter detailing instructions for the exchange. Simply copy and paste this into a word document and use it as your template, then follow the instructions detailed within the letter.

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Date:
Dear:

Welcome to our book exchange! This is not a chain letter; it is only for fun!

Please send one book to the first child listed below as #1. A manila envelope will work for mailing, and you can request the media/book rate for shipping. Then send two copies of this letter (one completed and one blank) to six friends. Move my child's name to the #1 spot, and list your child's name as #2 on your letter.

Soon, your child will receive 36 books! That's right ... you only send one book, and your child receives 36 in return. You should receive your new books in about two weeks if you mail your letters right away.

When sending the book, please be sure to include your child's name and address. If you can't complete this in one week (give or take a few days), please notify me, since it isn't fair for the children who have participated and are waiting for their own special books to arrive.

#1 NAME
ADDRESS
ADDRESS
AGE

#2 NAME
ADDRESS
ADDRESS
AGE

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NOTE: If you're the first to start the exchange, leave the #1 spot blank and put your child's name in #2. Or you can get creative and list in the #1 spot a local charity or other entity that might benefit from receiving 6 books. Your friends will then move your child's name into the number one spot and send their letter to 6 friends each.

For a fun variation, consider sending the letters to friends in different states or even different countries. Then hang a map in your house, and as you receive each book, mark the location it was sent from on the map. You'll be teaching your child geography while also reaping a library of treasured reads!