I hate to admit this, but I haven’t always been a book lover. When I was a kid, I struggled to find novels that interested me, and then in college, there was absolutely no time for “pleasure” reading. However, since then, I’ve come to appreciate reading in all forms — novels, magazines, blogs, newspapers, advertisements (yes, advertisements!), nonfiction, picture books, how-to, cookbooks, you name it! I fell hard, folks. Now I’m one of those people who is reading ten books at a time, all piled high on my night stand. It’s a great problem to have.
Here’s the thing… books can be expensive. And I like cracking a brand new one open for the first time, breathing in that new paper smell.
How do I get new books at bargain prices? The Green Valley Book Fair!
The Book Fair is located off of Friedens Church Road in Mount Crawford, surrounded by corn fields and sprawling farms, yet less than five minutes from I-81 exit 240. Driving up, you’ll pass a few quaint properties and turn into the main driveway headed up to the large barn where all of these wonderful books are housed. Park in the gravel lot out front, and if you like, grab a seat in a rocking chair on the front porch. Enter the building, and behold… row upon row of glorious books!
A plethora of sections are categorized, such as young readers, cooking and baking, crafting, picture books, fantasy, literature, nonfiction, history, mystery, even books in other languages. And there are more than just books, too… remember to check out other offerings like the toddler reading time area, gifts, school supplies, movies, children’s activities, picture frames, and more.
Other sections you won’t want to miss are the Caldecott Award Winners and Newbury books. If you’re unsure of where to start, those are excellent spots to begin!
One minor downside to the Green Valley Book Fair is that it isn’t open all the time. They’ll open for 2-3 weeks at a time, six times throughout the year. Be sure to check their website for the latest schedule. Enjoy perusing this huge book warehouse… it’s definitely worth the wait. On just one cookbook, I saved $13 (regular price: $18; book fair price: $5)!
