Scholastic Warehouse

If you ask a child what they think they will find in Heaven, you might hear answers like "Disneyland", "cotton candy", or "puppies."

Aside from the obvious spiritual aspects of Eternal Life, I hope that Heaven has copious chocolate and books.

I fulfilled my chocolate dreams by having lived for several years near Hershey, Pennsylvania, where the air smells of cocoa and the streetlamps are kiss-shaped.

However, it is in San Antonio that my book dreams have been answered.

The Scholastic Warehouse on Perrin Creek is Book Heaven.

Think back to when you were in school, and the teacher would pass out those newspaper-like flyers with book lists. My mom would let me pick two each time, and I had such a hard time narrowing down my choices. I was the kid that chose to go the library at recess. (Sister Charles Marie was concerned that I might have a life of crime in my future, merely because I tore through the entire Nancy Drew collection in record time. Why didn't she think I was destined to become a detective?)

I'll never forget the first time I walked into the Scholastic Warehouse. It is literally a working warehouse, complete with concrete floors, cinder-block walls, with exposed pipes and industrial lights in the ceiling. If it has central air or heating, you wouldn't know it, because it is cold in the winter, and hot in the summer, especially as the loading dock garage doors are usually open.

But who needs ambiance when before your eyes are countless rows of books, nearly floor to ceiling, and overflowing into carts and bins?

There must be a secret system known only to employees because a book about Spiderman can be found next to a cookbook, which is next to a pop-up book about Tutankhamun, which is next to a Clifford-the-Big-Red-Dog paperback. It almost confuses my German sense of order, but instead I love the necessity of walking down each aisle, looking at every single book to find what I want.

And, oh, do I want them all! I don't believe in being materialistic, but I do make an exception in regards to books. After all, books are the gateway to new life, new civilization, allow you to boldly go where no man has gone before.

I'm confusing that with an old "Star Trek" episode I watched last night. But, the point is the same. Books, in my opinion, are an experience, not a collection of items.

The catch to the Scholastic Warehouse is that it is only open to the public several times a year, and even then, they have restrictions. The sales are open to teachers, homeschoolers, and other people directly involved in the education of children. Admittedly, they have a fairly loose definition of this, but if you are interested in going, and cannot claim one of the catagories, you can sign up as a volunteer, and thus have access to the sale.

The sales are fantastic. Every book is at least 50% off, and sometimes much more. There is usually a clearance section where the prices are even better. One time, the had a sale where you could load up an HEB-sized plastic bag with as many books as possible, and only pay a dollar.

Although the majority of books relate to children, there are definitely selections for an older crowd. Cookbooks, self-help books, novels, history books, etc. can be found on many shelves if you have the time and patience to walk through the hallowed halls slowly and methodically.

I never walk out of there without several boxes taking up room in the cart, and a sudden lightness to my wallet.

I'm looking around my house, trying to figure out where we can add more bookshelves.

Scholastic Warehouse
4646 Perrin Creek
San Antonio, TX
800-633-4270
Visit the Scholastic Bookfair Website!
(Register for a Fast Pass, which expidites your payment on-site, and give you a $10 coupon off of purchases of $50 or more.)