| You want to give kids gently-used books at Halloween, but you have some questions. Hopefully, this page will answer your questions. If not, please write your question in the "Request Information" form, and submit it. We'll get back to you ASAP!
How will kids be able to carry around books? They're much heavier than candy?
Most kids' treat bags will be no heavier than their school book bags. If their neighborhood has many Books for Treats homes, their parents can help carry their treats, they can drop some books home part way through their trick-or-treating, or even bring along a wagon to carry their treats! We hope there are so many households giving Books for Treats that children need to have wagons! What will the kids' parents think?
Our experience is that parents are excited that their children receive books for treats instead of candy. They know that books are much healthier for their kid's mind, as well as their body. When kids bring home pounds of candy, it can actually present a problem for a conscientious parent. They don't want their kids eating that much candy, so they either throw out much of it, ration it, eat it themselves, or give it away. One of our neighbor kids said she didn't want to get all books and no candy. Will kids be disappointed if they get a lot of books?
The likelihood of kids getting more than a handful of books as treats is low. Kids will get a few books on their route, and we think they will be thrilled. How will kids know that we're participating in Books for Treats?
In the downloadable kit is a Books for Treats sign for you to print out and put in your window or on your door. When you post this sign weeks before Halloween, it builds kids' anticipation of the books they will get. Also, parents who don't want their children to have candy will know to come to our home. What if the kids or their parents aren't familiar with Books for Treats? How do I let them know what it is about?
In the downloadable kit is are bookmarks you can print out and insert in each book explaining what Books for Treats is, and how to get involved with the concept. We ask that you put a bookmark in each book. Why should I only get books for up to 6th grade? Why that age range?
The vast majority of trick-or-treaters are up to 6th grade. There are many fewer older trick-or-treaters. How many books should I buy for each grade range?
Ten to 12 in each category should fit most households. If you typically get more trick-or-treaters, you should gather more books. The categories are:
Pre-Kindergarten - Kindergarten
Grade 1 - Grade 2
Grade 3 - Grade 4
Grade 5 - Grade 6 How will I know which books are for what grade level?
In the downloadable kit is a chart to help you divide your books by grade level. However, a child may choose from a grade level above or below his own if he is a fast or slow reader. Let him choose a book that is comfortable to him. Sometimes a parent likes to be involved with choosing the book. I don't get a lot of trick-or-treaters. Should I buy fewer books?
If you have fewer than 10 books per category, the kids won't have much of a choice of books. I get 4 or 5 trick-or-treaters at one time. How can they all go through the box(es) at once?
We have found it works well to separate the books by level into 4 boxes, marked with the grade levels listed above. This makes it easier for more than one trick-or-treater at a time to choose their book. Kids know how to cooperate. They will work it out so they take turns choosing books. Where am I supposed to put the box(es) of books? I usually just open the door and throw some candy in the kids' bags.
You can either put the box of books on a table outside your door, then open the door to supervise when you hear trick-or-treaters on your porch. Or you could have the box(s) inside your door, and offer the box(s) to the kids when you answer the door. I don't know how many kids I'll get. Some years it is a lot, some years not many. How will I know how many books to order? What if I run out?
Buy more than you think you'll need. If you run out, do what you did when you ran out of candy in previous years just shut off your light and don't answer the door. I don't even know my neighbors or their kids. Will it be awkward?
We've found that this is a perfect opportunity to meet your neighbors, in a fun way. By meeting your neighbors this way, it is much easier to talk to them when you see them on your street, wave, or discuss neighborhood issues later. It is a great way for the neighbors to connect with each other. What if I have leftover books?
Here are some ideas of what you can do with any leftover books: - Save them for next year.
- Give them to a niece, nephew, grandchild, godchild, neighbor or friend's child.
- Donate them to a local school, day care center, library or church.
How can I become more involved in spreading the Books for Treats concept? - Talk to your friends, co-workers and neighbors about participating in Books for Treats for Halloween. Offer to gather books for them. Walk your neighbors through the process so they see how easy it is.
- Get your company to make a corporate donation to help with the running of the Books for Treats foundation.
- Make your own tax-deductible donation to Books for Treats. Fill out the form to the left and we'll notify you when our non-profit application is complete.
- Collect re-usable children's books from garage sales, used book stores and thrift stores to give as Halloween treats.
- Clean out your own kids' bookshelves and give outgrown, gently read books at Halloween.
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