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Original poster

When did you get rid of picture books for your kids?

32 replies

kiraric · 29/01/2025 07:48

By picture books, I mean the big ones that are mostly pictures and with a sentence or two on each page, not chapter books which have a few

My 5 year old for the last 3 months or so, more or less since he turned 5, basically only wants to have longer chapter books read to him, like Toto the ninja cat or the 13 story treehouse.

I feel like getting rid of our enormous stock of picture books but I am slightly worried that it's too early and he's just going through a phase

Any experiences?

OP posts:
TheLittleOldWomanWhoShrinks · 29/01/2025 12:30

My 9yo (very able, great reader - just for context) still enjoys having a (good) picture book read to her now and again at bedtime.

I've always been very selective in what books I buy for the dc, so the ones we have are high-quality and not ones I'd want to give away. I do give a pile now and again to a friend with younger dc on long-term loan.

NoraLuka · 29/01/2025 12:27

My DDs still liked picture books until they were about 6 or 7 and capable of reading chapter books. They didn’t read them often but as DD1 said “when maths is difficult at school I like books where I don’t have to do any thinking” 😁

saraclara · 29/01/2025 12:23

I'm now a grandma and I still have some of my kids picture books, and read them to my grandchildren. It was the classics and/or really well written and illustrated ones that I kept though. There are so many poor or boring ones these days, so I'd just have a cull, but keep the good ones, the favourites, and any that you have a sentimental attachment to.

usernotfound0000 · 29/01/2025 12:16

DD is 6 and we have just had a clear out of them. I have kept some, but probably because they mean more to me than her, I doubt very much she will look at them again!

Snorlaxo · 29/01/2025 12:13

Is he a good reader? The main reason why I’d keep picture books is if my child wasn’t a confident reader and they could read the picture books as practice.

parrotpancake · 29/01/2025 12:10

Never! But then I love picture books too ...

Now I have kids I was sad my parents didn't save mine. And my 6 year old still loves picture books (as the bedtime story with her smaller sister). She reads chapter books herself, but prefers picture books as the communal experience.

HanSB · 29/01/2025 11:50

We gave most of the picture books away at that age (to old nursery) but kept a few favourites. Always helpful to have a few for visiting younger children

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