Scholastic Memories

My two favorite days in school (not counting snow and vacation days) were when the Scholastic Book flyers would arrive and the books you ordered from them came in.  Okay, I liked Art day too, but that's beside the point.  Anyway, looking through those flyers always charged my imagination; they were like windows to undiscovered worlds.  I loved reading when I was a kid (I still do, although I seem to have less time than ever now).  I could hole up in my room with a book and not come out all day.

I found some Arrow Book Club flyers at an estate sale a while back and just recently scored a large lot of Scholastic Books at another estate sale, so I thought I'd match the flyers up with some of the books.  These flyers are from the late 1960's, so a little before my time.  A warning: this one is image heavy.

November 1968 Arrow Book Club News

The book featured on the cover of this flyer:

"The Mysterious Schoolmaster"

Other books featured in this flyer:

"The Littles to the Rescue"

"The Forgotten Door"

 "Elbert the Mind Reader"

"Nine Witch Tales"

I always loved these collections.

A few years ago, Scholastic came under fire for marketing toys, gimmicks and less-than-educational books to kids.  The cover of this flyer pushing "The Yellow Submarine" souvenir book seems to suggest it had been going on for years.

March 1969 Arrow Book Club News

Some books from this flyer:

"Revolt on Alpha C"

"T.A.B." stood for "Teen Age Books" and were aimed at grades 7 and up whereas "Arrow" books were aimed at grades 4 through 6.

Some books from this flyer:

"Homer Price"

"The Arrow Book of Brain Teasers"

Another collection I enjoyed were the puzzle or joke books.

"The Runaway Robot"

If you're wondering about those strange alphanumeric combinations you see on the covers, such as "TX 863" above, all Scholastic Books were assigned a catalog number and had them printed on the cover.  You can even search Amazon using those numbers.

"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"

March 1968 Arrow Book Club News

Some books from this flyer:

"The Ghost Rock Mystery"

I've found the covers to the Scholastic mystery books were often better than the actual story and a lot of times had nothing to do with the story.

"Mystery of the Empty House"

"The Wizard of Oz"

I wonder if this is a full or condensed version of "The Wizard of Oz".  I've never read the original (hanging head in shame), so I'm not sure.

Finally, here are some of the other books I picked up recently that aren't featured in these flyers:

"How to Care for Your Monster"

Norman Bridwell is best known for his Clifford books.

"The Witch Next Door"

Another non-Clifford Bridwell book.  Norman Bridwell just passed away last December.

"Ramona the Pest"

By far my favorite children's author was Beverly Cleary, and the art by Louis Darling was the perfect match; I refuse to read the books with the newer art.  I wish I could recapture the experience of the first time I read "Runaway Ralph" or the "Ramona" books.  Remarkably, Beverly Cleary is still alive at 98 (Her 99th birthday is April 12th!)

"Henry and the Clubhouse"

Mark Trail's Book of Animals

"Mark Trail's 2nd Book of Animals"

Because one book wasn't enough.

"TV Stars of '73"

Books about TV shows?  I was in Heaven.

"Strange but True"

Again, loved these.

"Million Dollar Duck"

"Is This You?"

Crockett Johnson is best known for his "Harold and the Purple Crayons" book.  That, along with "Where the Wild Things Are" are among my earliest memories of reading.

"Discovering Dinosaurs"

Not a Scholastic Book, but "AEP", which later became "Xerox Education Publication", were in the same vein.

"The Secret Cave"

Note the original title on this book: "Twenty and Ten".  Scholastic often changed the titles of books to appeal to kids' sense of adventure.  You have to admit, "The Secret Cave" sounds more exciting.

"Adventure at Black Rock Cave"

"Mr. Coverlet's Magicians"

"Father's Big Improvements"

"Prove It"

Science books were another favorite of mine (I know, I had a lot of "favorites"), especially if they came with a mirror or magnet or some other interactive piece.

"Barrel of Fun"

"Dolphins"

"Codes & Secret Writing"

"School Daze"

"Ghostly Fun"

"Ghost Town Treasure"

"Moon Trip"

"Mysteries, Monsters, and Untold Secrets"

I'd pay cash money to see a UFO attacking Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster AND an Easter Island mo'ai.

"Lost Race of Mars"

"Ripsnorters and Ribticklers"

"Tom Sawyer Detective"

 "Barrel of Fun"

 "Hurricanes and Twisters"

"The Trolley Car Family"

If you've made it through this huge post, thanks for reading.  And if you care to purchase any of these books (Warning: Shamless Plug), please visit my Amazon Store.  It helps fund future garage sale finds and makes room for more stuff!