Hey Kids! Buy a book...and some junk.

Ah, remember the good old days when a kid could read a book without having to look at Nintendo game or origami kit advertisements? Well, those days are past. Now, when a student opens a Scholastic books for kids catalog she will not only see the latest in kids lit. She will also be bombarded with ads for toys, games and makeup. There is even the option of package deals: "Buy this book, get a free poster!" But some parents are not accepting the propaganda laying down, insisting that "marketing in schools is a privilege, not a right." Scholastic is standing by its catalog, saying that the extra goodies are meant to tempt kids less inclined to read to go ahead and buy a book—provided it includes that math video game.