i think part of it was customisation, since you and most other kids would likely have the same books from the booklist so it would be easier to tell each one apart when you’re in class
also i think another part is that school books are going in and out of bags a lot, and the exposed thin (in the case of softcover) or thick (in the case of hardcover) cardboard was liable to get damaged/frayed/bent, and so giving the cover a bit more structure cos of the plastic doesn’t seem like a bad idea
I will admit, i’m thinking less like the specific covers in the pic and more the like wraps and stuff that come in rolls but i think it applies to both
i think part of it was customisation, since you and most other kids would likely have the same books from the booklist so it would be easier to tell each one apart when you’re in class
also i think another part is that school books are going in and out of bags a lot, and the exposed thin (in the case of softcover) or thick (in the case of hardcover) cardboard was liable to get damaged/frayed/bent, and so giving the cover a bit more structure cos of the plastic doesn’t seem like a bad idea
I will admit, i’m thinking less like the specific covers in the pic and more the like wraps and stuff that come in rolls but i think it applies to both