We actually went crazy and gave every child that attended DS's party 4 books. I bought a ton of multi-packs of the World of Reading level 1-3 readers. (Star Wars, Disney, etc.) I also bought several boxed sets at Costco, and I kept my eye out for book deals on Amazon over the last month. (I did a lot of sorting based on Prime and price "low to high", and looked at popular and well-rated titles.) We spent way more than I expected, but DS really enjoyed going through everything we ordered and selecting books for each of his friends. We packaged eat set with ribbon.
We also went ahead and order even MORE books to donate to our local children's hospital where DS spends a lot of his time, and another local charity affiliated with the hospital. Each child at the party received a bookmark with their books, listing what we donated in "their" name. After having a crazy few weeks with DS from a medical standpoint, it just felt right to make a donation for his birthday.
With regard to my initial Roald Dahl question - I did buy a few of those boxed sets of RD books at Costco, but I was selective with which I gave to party-goers. I limited it to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Matilda, and James & the Giant Peach. The rest of the titles will be part of our hospital donation.
We were really happy with the end result, even though we did go overboard. His party was Saturday, and several parents texted me photos of their kids reading in bed with their new stack of books. Made my heart really happy. <3
DS turns 6 next month, and I hate giving out junk. Last year we gave out scented Crayola markers, and ninja headbands. (It was a party at his martial arts studio.) I regret the headbands, and wish I had just gone with the markers. Even though I "did" receive a few text message after the fact. Friends kids wearing the stupid headbands. LOL. (I actually may have included crayons, too.)
This year he's having his party at the same place. There's nothing I want to buy that's themed "karate", etc., and not crap that will end up in the garbage. Not sure I want to go the edible route. Definitely want to hand something out to people as a thank you gift.
DS is obsessed with Roald Dahl. Costco sells boxed sets. 15 RD books for $25. They say "not for resale" on the back, but are identical to what B&N sells. Covers are the same. (So could not be exchanged, but they would have their choice from 15 titles.)
I was thinking about buying a couple sets, wrapping ribbon around each one individual book, laying them out on a table, and having kids select a book on their way out the door. I'm pretty sure DS would be onboard with this. (He's asleep. Idea just came to mind.)
I would end up with excess books, with plans to donate them to our local Ronald McDonald House or Children's Hospital. (Where DS is a regular.) I had plans to donate books or Lego sets to both in honor of his birthday, anyway.
Thoughts? I know some RD books can be a bit... salty? Harsh? Gross?
Are there people out there who would be appalled to receive a RD book?
"Hello babies. Welcome to Earth. It's hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It's round and wet and crowded. On the outside, babies, you've got a hundred years here. There's only one rule that I know of, babies-"God damn it, you've got to be kind.”
This actually highlights a question I've had about the push for reading "banned books". So many of the classics that we've read together lately have had racist dialogue. Some text has been rewritten and censored, yet much of it has not. Last month I read Tom Sawyer to DS and I had so much explaining to do. It actually triggered me to buy a few "Who Was" books to further the discussion on civil rights history. We rotate who selects our "read together" books. My next pick is "Who Was Frederick Douglass", because I'm still stewing over Tom Sawyer.
We finished "The Twits" by RD today, and I found myself both censoring AND pausing to communicate with DS about why XYZ is wrong, degrading, etc. Another of his books - Matilda, maybe, had me doing the same.
I think I'm in the camp of using classics to teach. You can't learn from avoidance.
Post by JayhawkGirl on Feb 12, 2019 22:19:57 GMT -5
I think it’s a great idea. Dd got a book as a favor recently and loved it.
I’ll also add, I didn’t care for Roald Dahl as a child, but they’re classics so I bought the set at Costco for DS. Not his cup of tea either. But I still think it’s a great favor. Not an author they care for? NBD. And perhaps approaching it knowing it’s a favorite of a friend will lead to heightened interest.
I love the idea of giving books, but which books depends on your crowd. It’s not something I would choose to give out because I know not everyone is going to read/explain to their child.
We did an assortment of those movie box candies, snack cups, crayons, markers, and a couple of other things (I think) and let the kids choose one. It was a huge hit. We made it like a game, where kids chose a number out of the cup, then got to choose their item in that order.
I wouldn’t for a 6th birthday party. DS1 and I have read a few recently and many of the books in the set I wouldn’t be thrilled to get or have to read to my kid.
Could you do a Charlie and the Chocolate factory favor or James and the giant peach?
I’m all for books as favors but not from that full set.
I like the book idea, but I’m not sure Roald Dahl is great for 5-6 year olds. The only book my son enjoyed at that age was Matilda. It took a long time to get through James and the Giant Peach and we only read it because it was his schools community read for the year (movie night at the end so we wanted to finish). The Witches still scares him at almost 9 so we’ve never finished it. I think The Twits is the only other one we have finished and if I remember correctly i had to censor a lot while reading. It was the only time I had read that book so I don’t remember it well.
We usually just toss a lot of favors, but my son received a ninja headband at a party when he was 2 and it is still used 6 years later by his sisters when they play dress up. I don’t think you should feel bad about your favor last year.
This actually highlights a question I've had about the push for reading "banned books". So many of the classics that we've read together lately have had racist dialogue. Some text has been rewritten and censored, yet much of it has not. Last month I read Tom Sawyer to DS and I had so much explaining to do. It actually triggered me to buy a few "Who Was" books to further the discussion on civil rights history. We rotate who selects our "read together" books. My next pick is "Who Was Frederick Douglass", because I'm still stewing over Tom Sawyer.
We finished "The Twits" by RD today, and I found myself both censoring AND pausing to communicate with DS about why XYZ is wrong, degrading, etc. Another of his books - Matilda, maybe, had me doing the same.
I think I'm in the camp of using classics to teach. You can't learn from avoidance.
I agree with you. I think this would be a tricky favor because 1) you run the risk of offending people, and 2) not every parent will sit down and have these conversations with their child. I absolutely think books are a great favor, I just personally would not choose these books.
Post by ilikedonuts on Feb 13, 2019 6:26:14 GMT -5
I love the book idea. That being said, His books are hard at that age.
Our old school read the BFG for One Book One School last year and I don’t think they thought it through when picking.
DD1 (7) has read Fantastic Mr Fox and is bouncing between two others from that Costco set but some of the books definitely have things I didn’t plan to get into with a 6-7 year old yet.
I wouldn’t for a 6th birthday party. DS1 and I have read a few recently and many of the books in the set I wouldn’t be thrilled to get or have to read to my kid.
Could you do a Charlie and the Chocolate factory favor or James and the giant peach?
I’m all for books as favors but not from that full set.
I wish I could go ahead and order 25 copies of a specific RD book. Unfortunately even a discount on Amazon, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory costs $6.99. I can buy a boxed set of 15 RD books at Costco for $25, which comes out to less than $2/book.
I keep browsing through their other boxed sets, and there's nothing that doesn't cum "numbered". I don't want to randomly give out book 6 in a series, you know?
I'll keep searching online and see if I can find an alternate. Whatever we give, I want it to be something that DS would love, too.
DD and I saw the musical James and the Giant Peach a few weeks ago at the local high school. She absolutely loved it and when I told her it was based on a book she was all set to start reading it.
UM. I read it as a kid and I remember it being kind of trippy but I didn't realize other things about it. She's 8 so we got through it and had a good conversations but I don't think she would have been into that at 6. I will not be introducing her to any other Ronald Dahl books at this time unless she specifically asks. I also feel that way about a lot of books I grew up reading and loving. (Hi Ramona looking at you!)
That said, I love books as a party favor. If your DS will love it, too, then that is all that matters. I would try to find something more in 5-7 range though. When DD had her 5th birthday at a gymnastics place I got the kids gold medals and level one gymnastics book. The kids weren't too into it at all but the parents appreciated it.
A boxed set of 10 large DK Smithsonian books for $27. They aren't numbered so they can be given out as a one-off and no one will feel like they were given something piecemeal. These are reference books that are filled with graphics. I can see kids flipping through them in the back seat of the car on their way home.
They have a few similar sets with hardcover Lego books, but I think I would fee weird giving out Lego BOOKS and not Legos to go with them.
One of my original thoughts was to give each kid one fo those poly-bag Lego sets. You know the kind you see hanging from a plastic strand in the Lego aisle at Walmart, or near the checkout lane at Target? There are some Ebay sellers with lots for sale. I could snag enough for the party for $3-4 each.
Here's the DK Smithsonian book set Costco has. $2.70 each per kid. Hardcover ----
And an example of what I might be able to snag from Ebay for $3-4 per kid ---
The school policy of inviting everyone means more kids, so I really want to keep favors around $3 or less. A little more if I have to. Hard to do when you want to avoid disposable plastic crap and junk food. I know those character themed cups that Walmart / Party City sells for 97 cents are common and often used as bath cups, but... ours always just end up recycled.
DD and I saw the musical James and the Giant Peach a few weeks ago at the local high school. She absolutely loved it and when I told her it was based on a book she was all set to start reading it.
UM. I read it as a kid and I remember it being kind of trippy but I didn't realize other things about it. She's 8 so we got through it and had a good conversations but I don't think she would have been into that at 6. I will not be introducing her to any other Ronald Dahl books at this time unless she specifically asks. I also feel that way about a lot of books I grew up reading and loving. (Hi Ramona looking at you!)
That said, I love books as a party favor. If your DS will love it, too, then that is all that matters. I would try to find something more in 5-7 range though. When DD had her 5th birthday at a gymnastics place I got the kids gold medals and level one gymnastics book. The kids weren't too into it at all but the parents appreciated it.
Oh wow! I bet James and the Giant Peach is great in a theatrical setting!
DH is so obsessed with RD. We're reading about 1 chapter book every 2-3 days, so I feel like I'm running out of options. We rotate between current popular titles (finished Dog Man, have the Magic Treehouse series), classics (just read Call of the Wild), and common mainstream classics like RD & Judy Bloom, and graphic novels (including Dog Man). We own the set, so he keeps begging. We have so many easy readers, and he is much more interested in listening to chapter books (and reading small bits where he can) right now.
I think the easy readers would be a big hit, but I know DS would be groaning about it.
On another note - I've got 10 out of the 13 Diary of a Wimpy Kid books that I have slowly collected at Goodwill in mint condition. I'm trying to decide when he will be ready for those. I know RD is a little more intense... Initially I told him he could read them once he was able to manage them cover to cover on his own, or around age 6-7. Thoughts? He loooooved Dog Man and Captain Underpants, and is thrilled when he can continue with an ongoing series.
CloudBee, my kid (6 nearly 7) would be thrilled with one of those Smithsonian books! And I would be too. He enjoys Dogman and those other books you named, but he really loves non-fiction books.
Post by Ashley&Scott on Feb 13, 2019 9:14:43 GMT -5
What about Elephant & Piggie books? M is in 1st grade and loves anything by Mo Willems. If your school participates in Scholastic Book Clubs you can get some good deals on their book packs, it ends up being $2-$4 per book depending on which pack you select.
CloudBee, if he can handle Ronald Dahl then I think he can do Diary of a Wimpy Kid!
I understand the struggle. DD did not love early chapter books at all. She found Owl Diaries and Magic Treehouse and everything else age appropriate for her completely boring. She held on to early readers and picture books for a very long time. Now all of the sudden she's like eh, I'm good and can read anything. And can. She also still loves being read to though so finding books that will hold her interest but don't have too mature themes is hard.
I think the Smithsonian books are a better choice. Your DS still gets what he wants but with a little less controversial subject matter!
What about Elephant & Piggie books? M is in 1st grade and loves anything by Mo Willems. If your school participates in Scholastic Book Clubs you can get some good deals on their book packs, it ends up being $2-$4 per book depending on which pack you select.
I think the Smithsonian set is a good choice too.
He's never liked these. He's just not a fan of traditional picture books. Much more into chapter books with more complex stories.
We got a curious George book on Saturday for a party favor, but it was a 3 year old’s birthday.
Do you do Scholastic through school? Can you see what the current $1 books are? Would they come in enough time?
The Chocolate Touch is this month's $1 book. We ordered it. I was surprised DD even know what that book was but she is excited for it to come!
I need to reach out to his school again. They do Scholastic book fairs, but we've never received a paper Scholastic order form from his current school. I went onto the Scholastic website and only a handful of teachers at his school have order pages. I'll chat with his kindergarten teacher. She's only been teaching 2-3 yrs so may not be aware that all she has to do is create an account. It's a tiny school, so maybe I could shop under another teacher's page.
I’d you're looking for more books, have you read him Harry Potter? Just started the first one with my 6 year old and she begs to read more. I will probably only read the first 2 at her age though. She’s also not into early readers and I can’t wait until she can read the chapter books she likes herself lol
Post by minniemouse on Feb 13, 2019 9:47:51 GMT -5
RD books are way over my kindergartener’s head. It’s something I would put away until she is older if we received one as a gift or favor. If you can find a scholastic book fair in your area, that is a great place to pick up books for less than $3. Our school does one that is open to the public. If you are open to non-book ideas, neoprene freeze pop holders were a huge hit at DD’s bday last year. They were about $1/each on amazon. We got the kids that look like fish/mermaid tails but they have other designs too.
Reading levels are so varied at 6. Some are reading Harry Potter and some can barely sound out cvc words.
Does your school do the scholastic book order? They have super cheap books that you can get a variety.
Or if you wanted to switch from the book idea - my friend got gift cards for the exact amount of a kids cone at a local ice cream shop. So if the cone was $2.12 with tax that's what was on the card. I'm sure it took some work on her part, but it was the best favor we've run across yet!