Frequently Asked Questions

General

Who can host a Book Blast?

Book Blast is available to K-8 schools and childcare centers seeking to provide students with books and generate excitement for reading. If you're an educator interested in learning more, simply schedule a call so one of our program specialists can walk you through the program and answer any questions.

What is the quality of the books you provide?

Great question! Our books are all publisher-grade quality. While they are not library bound, they meet the highest standards set by the publishing industry. Publisher grade ensures durability and is the same quality that you’d find in a bookstore. 

I’m a parent and my child’s school is participating in Book Blast. What am I supposed to do?

Your child should have brought home a document called a Treasure Map with a link and QR code. Your school also likely sent you an email or text message with a link. Please visit the link or scan the QR code with your phone and follow the instructions provided to complete the registration process and invite friends and family members to support your student.

I’d like to invite friends and family to participate but need to first know how this information will be used.

We send invites on your behalf! It’s that simple. We will never share any of your information or the contacts you provide. Once your school's event is over, your friends and family won’t hear from us again unless they choose to receive additional updates on the program. If you'd like to see the full details, please read our privacy policy.

Who selected the books?

Our book lists are curated by a panel of experts, including librarians, reading interventionists, and publishers. We rely on their expertise to ensure the books are engaging, age-appropriate, and of high quality. Please review the books shown on your student's treasure map for more specifics.

Are you hiring?

Well...we're growing! So, let us ask you, do you believe Books Are Fun? Are you passionate about inspiring kids to read? If yes, we’d love to hear from you! You can view available jobs on our careers page.

How long does it take to receive the books?

About 5 weeks after you launch Book Blast. Sometimes schools ask us to delay deliveries to work around holidays. Not a problem! 

Are you a Non-Profit/501c3?

Nope, we're not a nonprofit. We're just really passionate about getting books into the hands of as many kids as possible! Learnmore about us. 

I received an email or text message from a child I know asking for my support. Is this a legitimate request? Why did I receive this?

Book Blast requests are generated by students and their families to earn books. When you contribute via the provided link, your contribution purchases books from the student's list. Once a student has earned all 10 books on their list, additional contributions go towards helping other students earn books.

Do you still host corporate pop-up events or school displays?

We are no longer hosting corporate or display events, nor do we sell or stock productsHowever, we still operate under the Books Are Fun name, offering a Book Blast program that allows your local Childcares, Elementary and Middle Schools the opportunity to earn books for the students, teachers and school.  

Kids & Families

Who can participate in a Book Blast event? Do you have to receive contributions to participate?

Our goal is to create an inclusive experience for every student, regardless of their financial background. By simply registering your student and sharing 10 invitations, they automatically qualify for prizes and books.  Depending on the program at your school, your student may also qualify for other prize drawings and a chance to win a trip to Disney.   

Why should I contribute to Book Blast?

Educators have long recognized the lack of books at home for many children. Book Blast bridges this gap, providing every student with access to a personal library to foster learning and growth. With so many screens around kids these days, we aim to reignite excitement for reading with engaging programs, popular books, and fun challenges. 

I’m a parent and my child’s school is participating in Book Blast. What am I supposed to do?

Your child should have brought home a document called a Treasure Map with a link and QR code. Your school also likely sent you an email or text message with a link. Please visit the link or scan the QR code with your phone and follow the instructions provided to complete the registration process and invite friends and family members to support your student.  After you have created your account, you can modify it, adding additional students, and more friends and family invitations.  In order for your student to receive the proper credit for emails and texts sent and to be eligible for prizes and drawings, the invitations must be submitted through the Treasure Map link. 

Why do my friends and family receive so many texts and emails?

The program is designed to send multiple reminders to your invitees during the contribution period.  If an invitee contributes, using the link you sent them, the reminders stop. Please note that if both an email address and a phone number are included for the invitee, they will receive twice as many reminders.  These messages are only sent during the 2 week period of your Book Blast, and then they stop.  

How does the student earn books?

Each grade level has a pre-selected set of 10 books listed on the Treasure Map.  Students do not select their books; they earn the Treasure Map books based on their total contributions - raising $135 earns all 10 books.  If the student earns less than that, they receive the number of books their contributions cover.  

I have several students. Do I create a separate account for each of them?

No, you should list all your students under the same account.  All contributions will be evenly divided among the students.  

What books does my child receive?

Please check your child's treasure map for the most current book list for their grade. Titles are subject to change based on availability. 

How can I see the progress with my student’s account?

You can log back in to the account that you previously created for your student and click on Track My Progress at the top of the page.  This will show you all the contributions your student has received. 

What is the quality of the books you provide?

Great question! Our books are all publisher-grade quality. Publisher grade ensures durability and is the same quality that you’d find in a bookstore.  They meet the highest standards set by the publishing industry.  

I received an email or text message from a child I know asking for my support. Is this a legitimate request? Why did I receive this?

Book Blast requests are generated by students and their families to earn books. When you contribute via the provided link, your contribution goes towards purchasing books from the student's pre-selected grade list. Once a student has earned all 10 books on the list, additional contributions help other students earn books.

Who selects the books?

Our book lists are curated by a panel of experts, including librarians, reading interventionists, and publishers. This group of experts ensures the books are engaging, age-appropriate, and of high quality. Please review the books shown on your student's treasure map for more specifics.   

I’d like to invite friends and family to participate but need to first know how this information will be used.

We send invitations on your behalf It’s that simple All personal information is kept secure and will never be shared or sold. Contributions are processed with advanced, industry-standard encryption. We take privacy and security very seriously.  If you'd like to see the full details, please read ourprivacy policy. 

What content or themes do the books include?

We carefully review all books to ensure they are suitable for children, focusing on content that aligns with their age group and developmental appropriateness. While we understand that perceptions of appropriateness can vary, our goal is to provide books that families can trust for their quality and child-friendly nature. 

When does my student get their books?

Your students will receive their books at the Book Blast celebration. This typically occurs about 3-4 weeks after the contribution period is over.  

What happens to personal information provided in a Book Blast?

All personal information is kept secure and will never be shared or re-sold. Contributions are processed with advanced, industry-standard encryption. We take privacy and security very seriously.

We accidentally created multiple accounts for our student; how do we fix that?

Not a problem.  The accounts will be combined before we determine final books and prizes for your student.   

We sent 10 invitations, but my student did not receive the participation prizes; why not?

The first students to sign up and send out 10+ invitations receive their participation rewards the second day of the event. (This number is specified on the Treasure Map.)  Any students registered after that will receive the participation rewards when the books are distributed during the Book Blast celebration. 

How can I reinstate someone I accidentally opted out?

Once someone is opted out, they cannot be reinstated for this event. You can enter the person using a different email address or phone number. Alternatively, you can provide them with the link found on your student's registration page by logging in to your registration page and clicking on the "Track My Progress" page. Below the social media icons, you will see an option to "Copy Link." This link will direct your invitee to your student's contribution page. 

How is my student entered to win the Disney giveaway?

Check out the detail here: 

Can I only contribute online?

You can also contribute using a check, money order, or cash. Please make sure to clearly indicate that the contribution is for your student, include your name, and specify that it is for the Book Blast event. Checks or money orders should be made payable to the school and all contributions should be sent directly to the school. The sponsor at the school will ensure that your contribution is applied to your student's account. 

How do I contribute?

You should have received an email or text from a student’s family with a link to the contribution page. Simply click the link to contribute using a credit card or PayPal.   

My student received contributions exceeding the amount needed for the set of 10 books; can they get more than one set of books?

Contributions beyond $135 per student help other students earn books and fund additional resources like classroom supplies and books for the school.  

What is the processing fee?

This is an optional fee to offset a variety of costs including credit card processing, platform administration, taxes, emailing and texting fees.   

My student reached their goal and it increased. Why did this happen?

When you or someone you invite makes a contribution, you're supporting your student's progress toward their contribution goal. This goal is intentionally designed to grow as they make progress to help other students at their school. 

How is the contributed money used?

All contributions to the Book Blast program go directly toward purchasing books and educational supplies. We acquire books at cost and offer them at retail price, using the difference to fund our initiatives. Our supportive publishers and vendors offer discounts that help us maintain sustainable operations while promoting access to books for students nationwide. 

I am having problems contributing; what should I do?

We apologize for the inconvenience you're experiencing while trying to contribute. This could be due to a network connection. Try contributing again after a few minutes as this often resolves the issue.  We can also take your contribution over the phone via the BB Support line – 833.425.7736. 

I do not recognize this charge on my credit/debit card.

If the charge on your statement is listed as "Books Are Fun" or "Bookblast Book Drive," this indicates a contribution made to a school on behalf of a student for a Book Blast event. If you need further clarification, please contact us at bbsupport@booksarefun.com or 833.425.7736. 

Educators

Is this like a book fair?

Not at all. Book Blast helps ensure all students can participate in the joy of receiving exciting books even if their family is unable to afford books. Students also all earn the same books, creating a shared excitement for reading. 

Is Book Blast available to all schools?

If a school has elementary-aged kids, then yes! Book Blast is available.  

Some of our families can’t afford books right now, are they excluded from Book Blast?

Absolutely not. Every student at your school is guaranteed at least one new, age-appropriate book when your school has a Book Blast, regardless of their family's economic situation.  

Is Book Blast available for Middle Schools and High Schools?

Currently, we specialize in Elementary Schools and Childcare Centers. However, we are testing a Middle School program. Please let us know if you'd like to hear more about it. 

What does the program cost?

Our program is completely free for schools, and we provide all the necessary materials. 

What does our school need to provide?

Everything needed for the program is provided to the school in advance and at no cost. Books Are Fun is committed to your success.

How do I get a Book Blast at my school or childcare center?

Book Blast is available to K-8 schools and childcare centers looking to get new books into students' hands to help them build their own home libraries. If you’re an educator and want to learn more, schedule time with one of our program specialists. They’ll walk you through how it works and answer any questions. It’s fun, easy to host and free to run. 

We’re busy! How much work does the team at the school have to do?

We know you're busy, so we've made this easy for you and your team. The Book Blast program is designed to be simple and efficient, minimizing the effort required from the school staff.

Still have questions?