We have a parade and fair type local event to attend with our Shetland pony next month. This will be her 10th year at the event and she’s a pro. This year, instead of our son riding her in the parade, (he’s outgrown her) we’re going to put a pack saddle on her and give out books to children. We brought some horse themed books one year and they disappeared within an hour. This time, we want a variety of books for a variety of ages. I’m only a substitute teacher, so I’m never in on the ordering books side. Can anyone advise me how to buy children’s books in bulk for this event?
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I wonder if Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library foundation might have some information and/or assitance available? Or at least could steer you in the right direction?
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Hey, that’s a great idea!
I tried Scholastic, but they were not helpful.
I sent an email to Bulk Books.
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The Dolly Parton thing is a no go. They send books to children enrolled in their program. They don’t have books on hand to donate to events. Great idea, though. She’s a good person.
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Scholastic is weird. I have to lie and say I’m a homeschooler to get books and ask a teacher to help me buy them. The teachers I know are too busy. I’m not bothering them with that. I could try thrift stores, but wouldn’t that defeat the purpose? Those books might be the only ones available to the kids I’m trying to get them to in the first place. Does anyone know if the big box stores dump old books? They do have sales, but then there’s stickers all over them and, again, those are the ones more likely to be available to kids in struggling families.
I’ll share my search in case anyone wants to do something similar.
I’m trying publishers instead. Harper Collins might have a way to get books cheaper…
You could contact your library or local bookstores (new or used, if there are any left) and see if they have any suggestions. I suppose if publishers don’t come through you could also try contacting authors directly?
Do you only want horse books? Maybe local Pony Club or 4H groups could help? Donate horse books they’ve outgrown, or fundraise. Probably some Cothers have horse books they’d send you.
Good luck, sounds like a nice idea.
Grey
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I ordered about 70 books from two websites with books sent back due to overstocking. That might be enough. I don’t have enough in my budget to buy any more. We get paid a small amount to bring the pony, and we’ll break even with the book purchases. Some of the books I found were $1-2. Others were $2-3. That’s actually not bad at all.
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I found a few horse books, but I got a variety of early reader or picture books and a few tween books.
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Great ideas!
Here’s a nifty place, if second hand is ok.
https://www.booksbythefoot.com/product-category/childrens-books/
Grey
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Sorry that the Dolly Parton thing didn’t work out . . . I have a load of books that I could donate, if you can’t find some elsewhere. Media mail shipping isn’t too bad 
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That is awesome! Thank you!
I think we probably have enough, after I order a box from that last link. Thanks to everyone. I’ll let you know how it goes and be sure to get pictures of our book pony all decked out. 
The event is Feb 26th.
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we have a 2nd and Charles in town, they sell used and new books, perhaps they can help with bulk orders?
(they also have ‘free’ shelves outside at times. I grabbed a nice art volume there one time.)
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This is AWESOME! The organizing by color is gorgeous!
How did your pony parade go? Hope the weather was nice.
Grey
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Oh my goodness! Huge apologies for not posting sooner.
We had the pack saddle all ready, but it was an unusually warm day and a black pony still in winter wear. We did the parade with her, but then just set up in her pen so she was tied next to the inside fence with feed and water. We set up our chairs just behind her shoulder and the bags of books and her brushes beside us. We let people come in to see her. She was an absolute gem. She is so gracious with children. They petted her and brushed her. They whispered secrets in her ears and a few even gave her hugs. She acted like a princess receiving visitors. When the children finished visiting Maggie, we gave them a book to take home. It was amazing how the right book seemed to be at our fingertips when we reached into the bags. It was an amazing day. I wish I could show you pictures of the smiles and joy from he children. Privacy reasons forbid it, of course, but I’m sure we’ve all seen it in relatives or our own children. Quite a few adults visited Maggie, too. Many shared amusing stories about their own Shetland Ponies from their childhood.
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Sounds like a perfect day. You surely made many folks happy.
Grey
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