Want to organize a book fair? You're in the right place! Our FAQ provides essential tips and guidance for initiating, starting, and managing a successful book fair. Dive in to make your event a thriving hub for book lovers!
Ave Maria University and Ignatius Press have launched book fairs to offer an unparalleled Christian alternative to other nationally known book fairs. Our goal is to ensure that children have access to literature that can shape their minds and nourish their souls in the most profound way possible.
Our main office is located in the beautiful town of Ave Maria, Florida.
Our Ignatius Book Fairs team is truly exceptional! Guided by seasoned experts from Ave Maria University and Ignatius Press, our Operations Team comprises individuals with vast experience in both Christian schools and book fairs. Additionally, we have enthusiastic student interns from Ave Maria University lending their support. We cannot wait to connect with you!
We are thrilled to unveil our new mascot, Loupio, the beloved protagonist of the widely acclaimed comic book series The Adventures of Loupio! Keep an eye out for Loupio as he makes his appearance on our website, social media platforms, and during our exciting book fairs.
To host a book fair, please complete an inquiry form. You will then be contacted by a Book Fair Pro who will provide more information and answer any questions you have.
Please reach out to us as soon as possible to secure your desired book fair dates, as availability is limited. We do not hold dates until you receive a contract, and we kindly ask that you complete the contract within three business days of receiving it. Please be aware that dates cannot be held beyond this three-day period.
Ignatius Book Fairs are now available for schools and parishes across the continental United States! If you are interested in hosting a book fair, please fill out an inquiry form and tell us more about your school or parish. One of our dedicated Book Fair Pros will reach out to you to determine if your school or parish is a fit for this incredible opportunity.
Hosting an Ignatius Book Fair comes at absolutely no cost to you. We will provide you with a comprehensive package including all the books, state-of-the-art point of sales devices, eye-catching advertising graphics, beautifully designed marketing materials, sturdy book stands, and everything else necessary to ensure the success of your book fair.
First book fair? No problem! Our experienced staff will help you along the way. After signing a contract, we will send you a document called “Your Guide to Hosting a Successful Ignatius Book Fair,” which will explain in detail all our tips, tricks, and suggestions to help you plan a fantastic event.
We do not have a set minimum for book fair sales, as we carefully select schools and parishes that are the perfect fit for an engaging in-person book fair.
Ignatius Book Fairs now offers an online book fair - called a “Book Fair in a Box.” These are ideal for smaller schools and parishes without a school. This event requires much less volunteer time and effort to organize. This option is available to larger schools too if they don’t want to host a full onsite book fair.
Is there a minimum sales requirement?
We ask that you feel confident that you have enough community support to generate at least $1000 in sales, although there is no minimum requirement.
How much does a Book Fair in a Box cost?
The cost is $149, which includes all the books, supplies, and customer support you need for a successful event. Payment must be received within 15 days of signing the contract.
What do you send us?
One week before your online book fair begins, each organization will be sent a “BookFair in Box.” In this box, there will be a selection of our most popular, best-selling titles (a $300 value). You may keep these books OR re-sell them at list price after your online book fair concludes. In this box, we will also include 50 catalogues and 50 bookmarks to display on your table.
What types of books can we expect?
We have two options: a Catholic only box (23 titles valued at $300) and a Catholic/Non-religious mixed box (26 titles valued at $300).
How are books purchased?
All the shopping is done entirely on our website, store.ignatiusbookfairs.com and payment is by credit card. Customers simply create an online account, select your school, and start shopping!
NOTE:After your online book fair ends, if you choose to re-sell the sample books, your organization is responsible for accepting payment via check, cash, FACTS, etc.
Do you offer rewards for our organization?
Yes! Your organization will earn “Ave Dollars” which can be redeemed on our website to buy books. We offer 30% of all online sales (excluding tax) in Ave Dollars, plus the opportunity to earn “Surprise Bonus Books” if your sales exceed $3,000. Here's an example of what you can earn:
30% Ave Dollars
$1000 earns $300 Ave Dollars
$2000 earns $600 Ave Dollars
$3000 earns $900 Ave Dollars
Over $3000 earns $900 + $75 in Surprise Bonus Books
How long will our online book fair last?
The online book fair will last 7 days. Remember, you will need a plan to promote shopping before, during, and after the event. Books ordered during the event will have the option to be held and sent to your organization with FREE shipping. Your organization is responsible for distributing these books.
What work is required from our organization?
You will have to advertise this event well and set up one table in a public area to display the books. A laptop will need to be set up with our website so people can shop. If you are a school, you need to plan time for all students to visit the book fair table, look at the books, and fill out a wish list that can be brought home. Plan to have at least one evening parent shopping event (we recommend snacks and free baby-sitting). The book fair table should also be open before and after all Masses on the following weekend. It’s very important to plan and advertise opportunities for people to see the beautiful sample books in person!
How do we advertise?
We will send you a digital kit with social media graphics, posters, a wish list, a digital catalogue, and instructions on how to use them.
What do we do after the online book fair ends?
We will notify you about your total online sales and add the Ave Dollars to your account, so you can start using the rewards you have earned!
How do we schedule a “Book Fair in a Box”?
Contact Alma Cue: alma.cue@ignatiusbookclub.com and she will check dates and send you a contract.
Based on the size and setup of your school or parish, we suggest a duration of three to five days for your book fair. Our experienced Book Fair Pros will assist you in determining the optimal length of time for your event.
Our state-of-the-art warehouse in Illinois will be responsible for shipping all our books and materials directly to your location. Once the book fair is over, we will provide you with everything you need to pack up and ship any leftover items effortlessly, including boxes, return labels, and detailed instructions. With our seamless process, you can focus on enjoying the fair while we take care of the logistics.
Customers have the convenience to make payments using their preferred method—be it card, cash, or check. Rest assured, we will equip you with top-notch point of sale devices and comprehensive training on how to utilize them effortlessly.
We send around 250 individual titles to book fairs, with multiple copies of each title. That means you will receive between 500 and 1,500 books, depending on the size of your school or parish.
No, about 70% of the books we send will be wholesome, nonreligious books, such as fiction, inspiring biographies, fairytales, and classic children’s books. We also include books about sports, history, arts and crafts, and more. All these books have been fully vetted to ensure that the content is safe for children and will nourish their imaginations. We believe that children deserve to read great books!
Definitely! About 30% of the books will be Catholic—stories about the saints, Bible stories, books that explain the faith in an engaging way, and more. Many of our Catholic children’s books are the beautiful books co-published by Magnificat and Ignatius Press, including our popular religious books by Tomie de Paola. We will also send children’s books from other Catholic publishers, such as the Augustine Institute and Bethlehem Books, and we will add more of the best children’s books available from other Catholic publishers as we grow.
Our book fair list is proprietary. However, we will consider sharing this on a case-by-case basis after speaking to and learning more about your group. In the meantime, please browse our website to get an idea of what we offer.
Yes, our fall book fairs will have a selection of Advent and Christmas books, while our spring book fairs will offer a selection of Easter, First Holy Communion, and Confirmation books.
The Ignatius Book Fair provides books for children in grades K-8, including picture books, comic books, early readers, elementary and middle school books. We do include one table of books for "Older Teens 16+ and Adults" so the whole family can pick up a book at our fairs!
Yes, our website offers an extensive collection of hundreds of more books, with new additions being made daily. All these books can be conveniently ordered with free shipping to your school during our book fairs or within one week after the fair– and your school gets credit!
Yes, we offer a selection of carefully curated faith-based toys and small items that complement our books. These include saint dolls, puzzles, games, keychains, stickers, and more.
The Ignatius Book Fairs offer 20% in Ave Dollars or 10% cash back on the total of your sales (excluding tax). For book fairs that sell $6,000 or more, we will increase this offer to 40% in Ave Dollars or 20% cash back.
This is virtual money that can be spent at the end of your book fair or on our website, so you can buy more books for your classrooms, parish, or library.
Any Ave Dollars balance can be redeemed on the website.
This feature is coming soon. Ave Wallet will be a digital payment account where you can fund your child’s purchases in advance. Other people, such as grandparents and friends, can also contribute to your child’s Ave Wallet and they can use this to shop at the book fair.
When this feature is available, all you have to do is find your school’s book fair to sign up and add funds. Then just share the link with friends and family, who can do the same. The remaining balance after the fair will become a gift card to shop online with Ignatius Book Fairs or to fund a future Ave Wallet.
If you need to cancel, extend, delay, or change book fair dates, please contact your Book Fair Pro as soon as possible. In unexpected cases, the school may be responsible for reimbursing shipping and/or marketing expenses.
Each book fair will be assigned a Book Fair Pro who will be available should any problems arise during a book fair. We are here to help!
