Hold my place!

We have a lot of books in our house, even though we use the library multiple times a week.  I try to go through periodically and "weed" out some that we don't NEED.  But we still have a lot.  For the most part I don't mind but it makes me happiest when they're at least organized.  The kids pull out lots of books and read them,which makes my momma heart happy, but they don't put them back very nicely, which, well, you know...  :)  I spent a lot of time sorting the books and finding ways to make it easier to access what we want and put them all back where they go and where there's room for them.  I have a pretty good system down in the kids' room and our play room, but the books in the living room were still giving us problems.  Target Dollar Spot to the rescue!  I've been drooling over YouTube videos of all of the new learning items people are finding at their local stores.  Luckily, my store hasn't stocked a lot yet, which is helping my fairly non-existent self restraint.  I did find these little beauties for $1 each.  As soon as I saw them I knew that they would be perfect. 

I believe they are meant to be pointers for teachers to use at the board with their students.  But we're using them as shelf markers!  When they pick out a book, they slide a shelf marker in its place.  When they bring the book back, they know right where it goes.  Of course, my kids think they're the coolest things ever.  Even if they don't become master shelvers, they are beginning to understand the concept of putting books back where they go so that we can find them again later.  I think we might start taking them to the library with us, as well.