This Halloween, Give Books for Treats!

Tired of handing out the same old miniature candy bars to the neighborhood kids on Halloween? Want to shake things up a little, and do something that all of the kids, and their parents, will remember forever? Turn your house into a Books For Treats house!

Books For Treats is a program that encourages people to give out gently-used books instead of candy. The idea behind the program is that, instead of loading little kids up with sugary treats that will make them hyperactive and sick, we should be giving them something that is both good for them, and fun to get! You don't have to be the dreaded household that gives out something silly and boring like toothbrushes on Halloween. All you'll need to do to participate is gather as many kids' books as you can, and sort them by age-appropriateness. The Books For Treats website has a downloadable guide that can teach you how to figure out, using the code on the back of the book, what age group the book is meant for. Put the books into different boxes, marked by age group. When Trick-or-Treaters come to your door, they can rifle through the correct box and choose their own book!

In order to get books to give out, you'll need to do some hunting and gathering. Ask your friends, co-workers, family members and neighbors to pass along their children's outgrown books. Look for library book sales... on the last day of book sales, many libraries will let you take home books for free, or charge you a flat fee for as many books as you can stuff into a grocery bag. Half Price Books is also a good source for inexpensive books. In fact, if you approach the manager of your local Half Price Books, or another local book store, they may be willing to donate some of their slightly damaged or otherwise unsellable children's books to you!

I know there are a lot of people out there thinking that giving out books is going to ruin the spirit of Halloween in some way. But don't worry! First of all, Halloween is always going to be about candy, and there will always be plenty of people giving it out. The kids in your neighborhood will still have so much candy, they won't know what to do with it all. Most kids don't even end up finishing all of that candy, and it gets thrown away! However, a book that they choose themselves is something new and exciting. The kids will appreciate it. They won't egg your house! So, this Halloween, consider being a Books For Treats house!