Slog - Comments on The Endz of an Era http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era Scholastic is not going to allow its Bratz books, which are based on the sexy, sexy children's toys, to be sold at book fairs for children anymore. Apparently, consumer groups complained about the books, which had titles like Catwalk Cuties, Dancin' Divas, and Pukin' to Pretty*, and Scholastic finally pulled the plug. I had forgotten all about Scholastic's involvement in the schools: I really miss book fairs and book orders. Sometimes those were the highlights of my year.... Copyright 2008 Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:00:00 -0800 Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:25:17 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Westside forever I'd like to think the Scholastic people pulled the plug just because the Bratz are nasty, but could this have more to do with Mattel winning a huge intellectual property battle with Bratz' creator?

]]> Westside forever http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147829 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147829 Books Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:08:06 -0800 Comment by brinsonian As far as elementary-school-me was concerned, the day the new Scholastic catalog came was second only to the day the boxes of books ordered *from* the catalogs came.

]]> brinsonian http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147834 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147834 Books Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:13:37 -0800 Comment by stinkbug And the worst day is when they fulfilled your order with the wrong book(s)!

]]> stinkbug http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147855 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147855 Books Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:31:46 -0800 Comment by PopTart Well despite the fear that the nation's children can't be bothered to read anymore, the twice yearly Scholastic Book Fair at my son's school is always jam packed with kids. And they aren't just buying all the big toy corporation shit that Scholastic diversified into selling in recent years, sometimes besides the Pokemon, and Bratz, and My Little Pony stuff the kids buy non-toy related books too.

The Scholastic store is always on my list of places to visit when I am in NYC. Of course I say it's because I'm getting something for my son...

]]> PopTart http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147856 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147856 Books Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:32:15 -0800 Comment by Mrs. Jarvie I visited the Scholastic book distribution warehouse when I was about 10. My father brought me there, but I do not remember how he got access (maybe because he was a school teacher). They even found my latest order for me so I could take it home. My only regret is that I purchased and read all that bubble-gum teeny-bopper bullshit, when I could have been reading science books or the classics.

]]> Mrs. Jarvie http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147878 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147878 Books Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:43:40 -0800 Comment by Enigma Ahh, Scholastic. I remember in middle school the teacher of the class in charge of the Scholastic order didn't want to deal with it cause he didn't think the kids cared enough. So I took over collecting the money and orders because I wanted my books. He was so impressed with my entusiasm he gave me the free books they give to teachers for kids ordering. Best year ever!

]]> Enigma http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147881 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147881 Books Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:45:12 -0800 Comment by Carollani I loved book fairs so much.

]]> Carollani http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147894 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147894 Books Mon, 22 Sep 2008 16:57:03 -0800 Comment by jennifer Book fairs! A happy thought in an otherwise miserable day...

]]> jennifer http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147900 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147900 Books Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:05:53 -0800 Comment by isweatbutter oh to hold one of those super-recycled, yet full color, newspaperish order forms again! (i would totally order pukin' to pretty.)

]]> isweatbutter http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147921 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147921 Books Mon, 22 Sep 2008 17:21:15 -0800 Comment by Cristin Scholastic gives teachers points for every book order, which they can redeem for free books or electronics. My mom was a teacher and she got about half of our appliances through Scholastic. She put off retirement for a few months so she could get enough points for a free Apple computer.

]]> Cristin http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147988 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1147988 Books Mon, 22 Sep 2008 18:37:40 -0800 Comment by Sondari You guys had book fairs? Damn... it sounds like they were really cool. Now I'm feeling like I really missed out.

]]> Sondari http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1148051 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1148051 Books Mon, 22 Sep 2008 20:47:56 -0800 Comment by Alex Those book orders were the highlight of my years as well. One time I bought a book about Lizzie Borden from the Scholastic book order. There were pictures of the crime scene. I was in 4th grade.

]]> Alex http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1148150 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1148150 Books Tue, 23 Sep 2008 08:56:44 -0800 Comment by Sarah @12 -- I bought that at a book fair too! I had no idea who Lizzie Borden was when I was nine, but I was fascinated that she (allegedly) hacked her parents to pieces. Who let me have that book anyway?

]]> Sarah http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1148320 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1148320 Books Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:24:00 -0800 Comment by Propaniac I bought the Lizzie Borden book, too! I mean, how could you not?

]]> Propaniac http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1148403 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1148403 Books Tue, 23 Sep 2008 12:17:51 -0800 Comment by Gloria Once we got past third grade, I was always the only one in class who ordered any books. It was beyond tragic.

Am I the only one who felt really guilty for sometimes coveting books in the younger groups (the newsletters were organized by grade/age)?

]]> Gloria http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1149045 http://slog.thestranger.com/2008/09/the_endz_of_an_era#c1149045 Books Wed, 24 Sep 2008 07:25:17 -0800