Lincoln Elementary hosts buy-one-get-one book fair May 4-7

Bemidji families looking to stretch a book budget will get three after-school chances to do it at Lincoln Elementary, where every item at the Scholastic Buy One, Get One Free book fair comes with a second one at no extra cost.

The fair will run in the Lincoln Elementary library at 1617 Fifth St. NE, with public shopping open from 3 to 6 p.m. Monday, May 4; Tuesday, May 5; and Thursday, May 7. There will be no public shopping on Wednesday, May 6, a detail that matters for parents, grandparents and caregivers trying to fit a stop into the narrow window between school pickup, work shifts and evening activities.

That schedule makes the event more than a school shopping stop. For working families in Bemidji, the after-school timing offers a practical way to browse with children without having to leave town or spend much extra time. The buy-one-get-one format also lowers the barrier for households that want to bring home more reading material without spending as much as they would at a regular retail sale.

Scholastic says BOGO fairs are designed to help students discover the joy of reading and can support summer reading, when keeping kids engaged with books often becomes harder for families juggling childcare, camps and shifting work schedules. The company also says schools hosting a BOGO fair can earn product rewards, which can help extend the benefit beyond the days of the sale itself.

At Lincoln Elementary, the fair fits into a larger school mission to work collaboratively with families, staff and community to provide a welcoming, safe and challenging learning environment where each child is successful and differences are respected. A book fair like this gives students a chance to choose books for themselves, which can make reading feel more personal and more likely to continue at home.

Lincoln Elementary is part of Bemidji Area Schools, and the PTO is directing families to its Facebook page for more information. For Beltrami County households looking for an easy, kid-focused outing next week, the fair offers a short but useful chance to leave with books and a little more reading at home.