Books for every reader
PS 20’s Scholastic Book Fair
For one week each December the gym fills with books. Every class comes through, families shop after dismissal, and every purchase sends money back to PS 20 for classroom libraries and literacy programs.
Two ways to shop
In the gym, or online
In the gym, December 7 to 11
Classes visit during the school day at times set with their teacher, so your child may come home having already had a look and a shortlist.
Families shop after dismissal. There is no morning shopping this year.
Online, December 7 to 20
The online fair runs a full week longer than the one in the gym, with a far wider range than fits on the tables. Orders ship to your home.
It still counts for PS 20. Online purchases earn the school the same rewards.
Set up an eWallet from 16 November. It is a prepaid balance your child uses at the register, so there is no cash in a backpack and no lost change. Grandparents and relatives can add to it too, and anything left over is refunded.
After dismissal each day
When families can shop
| Day | Families can shop |
|---|---|
| Monday 7 December | After dismissal until 3:30pm |
| Tuesday 8 December | After dismissal until 5:45pm Open later |
| Wednesday 9 December | After early dismissal until 12:30pm |
| Thursday 10 December | After dismissal until 3:30pm |
| Friday 11 December | After dismissal until 3:30pm |
Where the money goes
Scholastic shares the takings with the school, and PS 20’s share comes back as books. Nothing leaves the building.
Beyond buying a book
Other ways to take part
Share the Fair
A donation buys books for children who could not otherwise shop. Give any amount at the register or online.
Every child leaves with somethingTeacher wish lists
Teachers list the books they want for their classroom library. Buy one and it goes straight onto the shelf your child reads from.
Ask your child’s teacherVolunteer a shift
Five days in the gym takes a lot of hands, at the register and for setup and packdown. No bookselling experience required.
Sign-up coming on KonstellaGood to know
Questions families ask
Can my child bring cash instead?
Yes, cash and cards are both fine at the register. eWallet just saves the usual trouble of money going missing in a backpack, and it lets you set the amount in advance rather than working it out at the table.
What if we cannot afford books this year?
Share the Fair exists for exactly this. Donations from other families go towards books for children who would otherwise leave empty-handed, and it is handled quietly at the register. If you would like your child included, speak to your child’s teacher or the Parent Coordinator. Nobody is told who asked.
How do the class visits work?
Each class has a slot during the school day to come and browse. Children are not expected to buy anything on the class visit, and many come home with a wish list instead. Your child’s teacher will say when their slot is.
Does buying online still help the school?
Yes. The online fair is tied to PS 20 and earns the school the same rewards as the gym, so it is a real alternative if you cannot make the after-dismissal hours. It also runs a week longer, through 20 December.
Where is it, and why the gym?
The gym, on the ground floor. Scholastic will not carry the book cases up the stairs any more, which settled the question for us.
See you in the gym
December 7 to 11, after dismissal. Set up an eWallet first and your child can shop on their class visit without you there.