Books for Treats?!

I love Halloween, but it does come with its share of drawbacks. First, there's all of the waste created by the millions of candy wrappers that will be thrown away over the next few weeks. Then, there's the candy itself. I look at those buckets of candy and think about all of the time we'll be spending at the dentist's office as a result.

So, when I came across Books for Treats, I was thrilled. Books for Treats is an organization that focuses on encouraging families to give gently used children's books, rather than candy, to trick-or-treaters. Their website is full of information about how to get your hands on inexpensive, used children's books (though if you have books around that your own children have outgrown, this is a perfect solution for you!) and a nice Q & A about why you should consider giving books for Halloween.

For the green-minded among us, the idea is a real winner. We are recycling. We aren't buying anything that will contribute to the amount of trash in our environment. We aren't contributing to the childhood obesity rate in our country, which is getting more worrisome as the years go by. We're providing the kids in our neighborhood with real nourishment, in the form of books, instead of sugary junk that barely pretends to be food.

So, where can you get your hands on some gently used children's books to give out on Halloween?

- Thrift stores

- Garage sales

- Library book sales

- Clearance bins at your local bookstore

When I was a kid, the people who didn't want to give out candy usually gave out toothbrushes or fruit. I'd rather have a book, any day of the week, and I know my kids would, too. To learn more about Book or Treat, visit their website.