Children's book swap!

[wss4]

Well I don't know if that exactly explains it but here are the details:

My 6 year old brought a letter home from school yesterday that one of her classmates gave her. Now normally I would not even consider something like this because I can not stand chain letters, but this actually sounds like a good idea. And I thought that it would be interesting to post here at DOD so that we could get some books from other states. If you are interested just PM me and I will send you a copy of the letter!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This chain letter is part of the US Literacy Campaign. It is meant to give very young children an interest in books.
This is not a typical chain letter. The project has been approved by the Post Office. A pre-school class started this letter as a project.

Sometime in the next 10 days have your Mom or Dad send a copy of this letter to six of your friends.
Please omit the first name on the list , move me up and add your name below me. Then send a "children's book" to the name that you omitted. A few stamps should cover the postage for most children's books. In about three or four weeks, you will receive 36 books! It will be fun to discover where all of the books come from.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


This gives you the general idea. I think that it is a wonderful idea!! Let me know if you are interested!!

[tasker109]

normally i dont participate in chain letters but when the kids were little i received several of the book ones. i participated in them and never received one book back. very disappointing because it could have been a lot of fun.

[freesurfer]

Hey, I love this book swap thing. can you add me to the list??

[wss4]

tasker-----that is what I was worried about. Not getting any books. That is why I figure that if I send it out to people who really want to do it it is more likely to work. I will let you know how many we get.


freesurfer------I will be happy to send you a letter today. Just PM me or directly email me with your name and mailing address! Thanks!!

[kells3]

Wendy,

I did this a few years ago with stickers. I made sure that I asked everyone if they wanted to do it and they said yes. I know most of my people sent out their letters. We still only received 1 packet of stickers. So don't be too disappointed if this doesn't work, but I hope it does.

Kelly

[wss4]

Thanks Kelly------I know, that is why I don't do chain letters. It really has a long way to go to get to you and usually does not make it. But at least I know that one little girl will be getting a book from us and who knows maybe something will come. I will just have to make sure that my little one understands that she may not get a lot of books! Of course being 6 she may just forget about it long before they should have arrived. LOL It's worth a try!

Thanks

[freesurfer]

tried to pm you but can't get it figured out. I'm slow at picking this stuff up, but when I do........

watch out.


Will email you directly later.

[wss4]

freesurfer-------just hit the gray PM button under my post and it will take you to the page to PM me. Or email me at [Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

[JulyGirls2]

Found this article at Starbulletin.com:
[Only registered and activated users can see links. Either login above or Register Now]

Kokua Line
June Watanabe
Monday, October 25, 2004

Dubious chain e-mail is not illegal

Question: I received a printed letter titled "Grandparent to Grandparent Reading Cllub," with club misspelled with two l's. It appears to be a typical chain letter asking me to send a copy of the letter to six friends with grandchildren, then send a book to the top name. It claims not to be a "typical chain letter" and that it "has been approved by the Post Office." It also claims to be part of the "U.S. Literacy Campaign." Is there any validity to any of the claims?
Answer: The letter also says that if you follow the instructions, your grandchild should receive at least 36 books in two weeks and that "a few stamps should cover postage for most children's books."

Like most chain letters, it puts the onus on you not to break the chain, telling you "it wouldn't be fair to the other children if the chain is broken."

However, the letter was "not sanctioned or approved by the postal service. We would not do something like that," said Lynne Moore, manager of consumer affairs for the U.S. Postal Service in Hawaii.

But, because it doesn't really solicit any money or items of "substantial value," or promise you anything in return, "We don't think this particular (chain letter) is illegal," Moore said.

The Postal Service warns that chain letters are illegal whether they are sent through the mail, by computer or delivered in person if the solicitation involves mailing money or something of substantial value to participate.

However, chain letters asking for items of "minor value" are not illegal "since such items are not things of value within the meaning of the law," according to postal service regulations.

It's up to you to participate or not participate "at your discretion," Moore said. "It's like anything else: You have to be an educated consumer; you have to be aware of what you are responding to."

But if you do receive a chain letter asking for money or items of value, you are asked to turn it in to your local postmaster or nearest postal inspector. Write on the mailing envelope of the letter or in a separate letter, "I received this in the mail and believe it might be illegal."

We couldn't find anything about a "U.S. Literacy Campaign" tied to chain letters. If any reader has information about such a campaign, please call "Kokua Line" at 529-4773.

We did find references to a variation of your chain letter in Internet postings dating back to 2000, again supposedly involving a "U.S. Literacy Campaign," but asking parents to participate. Several people noted how disappointed they were in receiving only one book or none at all.

In the meantime we found a lot of warnings about chain letters on the Internet.

Hoaxbusters -- hoaxbusters.ciac.org/HBHoaxInfo.html#what -- for one, notes that the traditionally mailed chain letters have moved on to the e-mail circuit, potentially "clogging the network and interfering with the receiving of legitimate e-mail messages" because they're so easily sent.

"They play on your fear of bad luck and the realization that it is almost trivial for you to send them on. The chain letters that deal in money play on people's greed and are illegal no matter what they say in the letter," warns Hoaxbusters.

[GR8GIRLS]

Originally Posted by wss4

tasker-----that is what I was worried about. Not getting any books. That is why I figure that if I send it out to people who really want to do it it is more likely to work. I will let you know how many we get.


freesurfer------I will be happy to send you a letter today. Just PM me or directly email me with your name and mailing address! Thanks!!

I pm'd you, but I'll post my question here for anyone else interested. Is there an age frame...like 8-9 etc ?
My dd's are 8 & 13 But count me in!

[dah1416]

hi! I'm a newbie in the group. I'm interested in the joining the the Children's book swap... Actually, I already join a similar one here in the philippines. It's a great way of giving quality time to your children. I enjoy looking at their faces when they receive new books and are eager to look at them. My son was only 4 years old then but you can see in his face the joy of getting one or even several book! we love reading !!!

thanks,
dah1416