You know, the kind that says, "This is not a chain letter!" but it totally is.
Well, chain-lettery or not, I thought it would be fun to participate in the exchange. But the form that I was supposed to "copy and mail to 6 friends" was dull and boring {and it had obviously been copied 20 times already}. Since I don't own a scanner or have any way to copy it, and knew that I would have to type the form up myself, I decided to do my best to make it cute.
This form is free for your use. Hopefully, just being able to print it directly from your computer will cut out the hassle of having to scan the original and make copies :)
Some tips for participating in a book exchange:
1. Contact your friends and ask before sending them an invite to the exchange
Not everyone gets giddy with excitement when receiving a chain letter. The idea of participating in a kids book exchange may be overwhelming to many moms, and you don't want to put them in an awkward position if they can't do it. Try to call, text, or email your friends to ask their permission to send the letter to them. If they don't want to participate, or don't have the time, tell them not to feel bad! Contacting them ahead of time is a considerate way to invite them to be involved without making them feel forced.
2. Don't worry about sticking to the "Send to 6 friends" policy
If you have 7 or more friends who would genuinely love to do this, go ahead and invite them! The more the merrier :) And, by inviting more people to participate, you're upping the number of books you'll be receiving.
3. Make use of Amazon or other web-based book services
I mailed the book directly off to the little girl in the #1 slot within a few minutes of receiving the invite from my friend. Amazon saves the day! I didn't have to go to the store to pick out a book, and I didn't have to stand in line at the post office. By using my Amazon Prime account, I didn't even have to pay shipping. It made this whole book exchange almost way too easy.
4. Send a new and exciting book that the family is less likely to own already.
This means to pretty much exclude all Dr. Suess and Sandra Boynton books from your shopping list. Try to think of a book that is a family favorite in your house, and have fun sharing it with another family.
When done correctly, a book exchange can be a lot of fun. Have fun participating in one, and be careful to make sure that your friends can enjoy it without feeling pressured to do so.
What book is a family favorite in your house?
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