Jul 20, 2026

The Scholastic Book Fair

Remember the suspense, excitement, and energy of READING as a kid? What about shopping with friends and classmates DURING school? If you love budgeting and gel pens, you were a fan of the life-altering Scholastic Book Fairs brought directly to your elementary school library. Learn about the meteoric rise of the Scholastic Book Fair, how the company branched out internationally and into education, and reminisce on your favorite authors and series that shaped the most formative years in your bibliophilic development. This episode features special guest Dr. (and Adjunct Professor!) Amy Silverberg, who received her PhD in Creative Writing and Literature from USC, and also happens to be an excellent stand-up comedian!

Here’s the team’s assigned summer reading list to stimulate the mind of your inner child featuring our most beloved books and authors:

Amy: If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, The Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. Curious George, A Wrinkle in Time, CS Lewis’ The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe series, Babysitters Club (shout-out to diabetic Stacey), Matilda, James and the Giant Peach, The Secret Garden, The Giving Tree, The Berenstain Bears
Pallavi: Clifford, The Pokey Little Puppy (amongst other Golden Books), Bunnicula, Ramona The Pest, The Lord of the Ring Series, Sweet Valley High, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, The Secret Seven, The Famous Five, Ella Enchanted, Tuck Everlasting, A Wrinkle in Time, Roald Dahl, Shel Silverstein, Goose Bumps, The Boxcar Children, Sideways Stories from a Wayside School, Where the Wild Things Are, The Secret Garden, The Giver
Valerie: Where The Red Fern Grows, A Ring Of Endless Light, A Prayer For Owen Meany, Bridge To Terabithia, The Babysitters Club, The Boxcar Children, Sweet Valley High, Goosebumps, The Face On The Milk Carton, Both Sides Of Time, Summer Of My German Soldier, Sideways Stories From Wayside School, Lord Of The Flies, Tuck Everlasting, Sarah, Plain And Tall, Fear Street, Jane Eyre, The Adventures Of The Bailey School Kids (Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots), Watership Down
Jasmine: American Girl books (especially Addy & Molly), Magic Attic Club, Baby Sitters Club, Junie B Jones, Roald Dahl (especially The Witches and Matilda), Cheetah Girls by Deborah Gregory, The Princess Diaries series, Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging, Stargirl, Rainbow Boys

What were your faves from the book fair? Comment on our posts or DM us at @MillennialMoodboardPod or email us at millennialmoodboardpodcast@gmail.com!

This episode was researched, written, and hosted by Jasmine Ellis, Valerie Tosi, and Pallavi Gunalan. New episodes every Monday!