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Founded in 1948 as the Scholastic Book Club, the Scholastic Book Fair has been a mainstay of public schools and their more literary students since 1981. On Nov. 3, Hill’s Bookstore in Hollister is offering homeschoolers and their parents the same chance to find a new and exciting book to read at its first Homeschool Book Fair, which is planned to be an annual affair.
“We have so many homeschool families that come and shop here,” co-owner Adam Hill said. “These are parents who are trying to introduce their kids to books, and I really wanted to give them a childhood memory that excites them and makes them want to come back for more.”
As a student at Cienega Elementary School, Hill never got to attend a Scholastic Book Fair, but he fondly recalls the times the San Benito County Free Library bus would come by and let students take a book or two for free.
“That was super cool,” he said. “Everyone loved it when we saw that bus. We could pick anything we wanted and walk out of the bus with it. And I couldn’t believe how many books they had in there.”
Hill seeks to replicate the experience, saying that homeschoolers can, like everyone else, get a book from the library, a store, or even one of the free little libraries in various places in the county. But for him, the book fair is much more than a way to find a book.
“Being able to walk into a room that is dedicated to you is something that I think kids appreciate greatly,” he said. “It’s not just their favorite books, but new books, the people who can guide them and suggest books. Sometimes it’s just a special bookmark that excites them.”
One of the fair’s highlights will be the first-day release of popular author Dav Pilkey’s “Dog Man: A Sprinkle in Time,” which will arrive in a custom display and be accompanied by a giant cardboard Dog Man figure made by Hill’s mother, Esther Hill.
“Dog Man is one of those books that’s easy to read,” Hill said. “The author is hilarious, and there are incredible attention-grabbing graphics within the books. I think one of the things that kids love is that other kids are talking about it too, just like adults do at book clubs.”
But Hill and his wife, store founder Kimberly Hill, along with the store’s staff, have more than just Dog Man to offer. They have been preparing for the event for months by curating a list of new offerings after reviewing thousands of titles.
“In the time since we’ve been open,” Hill said, “we’ve been able to listen to kids, see what they’re into, and get feedback from them. We have looked for books with social themes and educational content, looking for books that excite kids and are visually appealing.”
Hill and the staff also study the books as they come in so they can better guide young readers to ones that would be of particular interest.
“For example,” he said, “if somebody comes in and says, ‘I really like the Percy Jackson books, and I’m looking for something else to read that’s like that,’ any one of us is going to be able to help that child find their next favorite read.”
Hill’s is also authorized for book purchases through any parent involved in Ocean Grove Charter School, which allows them to order the books through a purchase order at no cost to the student.
“Once we get the approval,” he said, “the family gets to come by and pick up their books. It’s completely paid for through Ocean Grove, and so that has been incredibly helpful for us. It gives the Ocean Grove families another place to shop within San Benito County.”
Customer Rachael Burnham homeschools her four-year-old Kyland through the Ocean Grove system and works with an educational specialist on his curriculum and book choices.
“We have the freedom to choose what we want as long as it’s approved by Ocean Grove,” she said. “The book fair is going to be a great opportunity to find material instead of just looking online. It’s easier to look at something that’s in your hand to see if it’s something you like.”
Of course, the book fair is open to anyone who wishes to attend, and public school teachers have an extra incentive: with identification, Hill’s will order any book for their classrooms at cost.
For anyone interested in getting a child to read, Hill said the fair’s environment will be as inviting as possible.
“I just think there’s so much more to a book fair than just the ability to purchase books,” he said. “It’s about the fun, enjoyment and atmosphere. It’s an opportunity to make those core childhood memories here at the store, and I’m hoping folks will show up and have a good time.”
Hill’s Bookstore Homeschool Book Fair
Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at 650 San Benito Street, Hollister
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