The IlluStory Make Your Own Story Kit is a WONDERFUL gift for young children! That’s what this bookworm thinks, anyway! I bought one for my nephew last year and it was a HIT! He and his parents absolutely loved it! DJ got to make his very own book with his very own story and his very own pictures! How much cooler than that can it get?

Here is the description from the manufacturer:

Here’s your child’s opportunity to take their own story and drawings and turn them into a professionally typeset, hardbound book.This multi-award-winning activity kit allows any child to be the author of a 12-page, typeset, 7″ x 9″, hardbound book. Budding authors write, illustrate and design their book, then mail the manuscript to the publisher for publication. Imaginations will run wild illustrating and writing a story using the 10 washable markers and 18 special book pages included in the kit. Once complete, send everything to the publisher in the prepaid envelope (included). In just a few weeks, your child’s book arrives bound and ready to be added to the family library. Extra copies can be ordered for an additional cost and make thoughtful gifts for teachers, friends and family. IlluStory also offers an Internet production option that includes online drawing tools, backgrounds and stickers, allows for more words per page, and offers a choice of font styles and colors and faster production times at no extra cost. Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award Winner, Parents’ Choice Classic Award Winner, Family Life’s Best Learning Toy Award Winner. IlluStory Paper Sketching and Tracing Creations By You Arts and Crafts

Seriously, you have got to check this thing out! I only wish that IlluStory
had been around when my kids were little.

Wonder if they make a teenage version? Hmmm…

Then we got to talking about the book fairs that the schools have and I was telling her how I didn’t really like them, because there are too many ‘trinkets’ on sale. Not to mention, the $30 books that Shawn always picks out! I know, though, with a $30 book he is getting his money’s worth.

Those darn ‘trinket’ combo things drive me crazy! They sell a really cheap toy, and a really cheap book – package them together and then mark the price up, because, you are getting a book and a toy! HA!

And Shawn used to be such a sucker for these! It used to drive me crazy! One time, he bought a combo set that was about airplanes and jets. If it was just a book, that would be awesome for a young boy to get excited about reading! But – he wound up with a really flimsy, cheap-o book, and these little bitty cardboard airplanes! It was awful.

And the thing is, that more and more of these things are making their way into the book fairs. And then the Scholastic team can pat themselves on the back, thinking they are getting kids excited about reading. I have to say, though, I don’t think Shawn – who is a voracious reader – even read that silly airplane book!

Then Loretta and I switched gears a little bit and began discussing the book orders. I told her that I do like those. There seem to be some really good deals in there, quite a bit more than at the book fairs. And I know how much the kids love ordering the books – it is so exciting for them when their books come in!

I remember very well ordering books when I was in elementary school and how totally awesome that was! (I don’t remember if we used Scholastic back then, though – I’ll have to ask my mother if she remembers.) And in the fourth grade, we had a behavior system that was based on points, but, instead of points, you got what we called ‘mula money’. The mula money was little pieces of construction paper with different amounts on them, that we had all helped to make at the beginning of the year, if I remember correctly. And on the week that our book order came in, on that Friday, in the afternoon – if you had enough mula money, you got a special treat. You were allowed to find a comfortable spot anywhere in the classroom that you wanted and read your new books. And – you could bring a snack – any kind of snack. It didn’t have to be healthy. If you wanted to bring a Snickers and a Coke, that was fine! Oh, how I loved those Fridays!! And what a wonderful memory to have!

Back to my Skype chat, though, Loretta and I were still chattering on and on about the book orders and the book fair, when Sammie’s bus pulled up outside the house. She came running in the front door shaking some papers at me, “Momma! I got a book order!” She was so excited, and probably wondered why I was ignoring her. It was because I was so busy laughing and typing to Loretta what Sammie had come in saying! It was so funny!