With school starting back today in many parts of the country and the wonderful article in the New York Times about our Book Clubs, we here at OOM were thinking back to when we were in school and would get the Book Club flyers…or better yet when the books would arrive. Here’s what we remember:

Jessica: I remember getting that flyer and I would add little stars to each and every book that I wanted. I would always use pencil because the “Oh Mom…PLEASE can I have this????” list was in pencil while the ordering always had to take place in ink. Then the negotiations would begin. There were always revisions to the request generally after the statement “You can’t have one of everything.” Stars would get erased. Bargains would be made. Ink finally applied. Then the waiting game would begin. When the books finally arrived, they would be delivered to my teacher’s desk and…..sit there until the end of school before being distributed!!!! Oh the torture! Backpack finally stuffed with books mere minutes before the bell rang, I could get on the bus and lose myself in my latest story.

Amanda: My elementary school was a huge supporter of Book Clubs and Fairs, which worked out, because Elementary Me was a huge supporter of books. I remember bringing home Book Clubs flyers, circling 80% of the things in it, editing those selections down (thanks, Mom), and then looking forward to the Day The Books Would Arrive. At my school, the teachers would sort the books while we were out at recess and we would return to find out books neatly stacked on each of our desks. It was like having Christmas once a month.

Ivy: I remember how quiet my whole class would get as soon as my teacher passed out the book flyers. We were all so engrossed in looking through the selection of books and circling the ones we wanted. Then after class we’d rush to discuss and compare which books we would all get. Sometimes my friends and I would agree on which books to go in on together. That was the best!

Tyler: I got excited every month when my teachers would hand out those colorful flyers full of exciting books. But I almost always ordered from the same series! And if you go through boxes of old books I saved in my apartment (or in my parents’ house), you’ll find tons of Berenstain Bears books, or Matt Christopher sports books, or Hardy Boys or Curious George. Once a creature of habit, always a creature of habit!

So those are our fond memories and now we want to hear yours. Leave us a comment and tell us what you remember!

While you’re on a nostalgic-kick, don’t miss the Book Clubs blog at Book Talk!