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Original poster

Am I unusual in not buying many kids books?

41 replies

Chickenitalia · 26/02/2020 11:50

Just curious about other people’s behaviour around kids books.
My dc’s school are having a book swap for WBD next week, instead of dressing up, and people are very happy about this! However we don’t have any books that my kids are willing to swap.
I don’t buy books that often. The ones we have are in sets, and tend to be those which dd10 likes now and ds7 will read in the future, things like Harry Potter, Tom Gates, Ronald Dahl etc.
We use the library weekly and they get books from school too.
I find books to be expensive even online, and wouldn’t buy something for them on the offchance they like it.
Do you have random books at home that your dc would be happy to take in for something like this? School seem to think it will be great and easy (and definitely better than costumes for sure) but I’m going to have to go out and buy a random book just for this event (charity shop here I come!) and amongst my friends it doesn’t seem like I’m the only one.

OP posts:
Original poster
Chickenitalia · 26/02/2020 11:51

Roald Dahl, fgs. Thanks autocorrect.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 26/02/2020 11:52

Do you not have any picture books from when they were younger?

fearnotsnot · 26/02/2020 11:53

I'm the same op. Books are bloody expensive and any books I have got for dd at Xmas or birthdays I am keeping for our younger dd's. I wouldn't want to swap them/give them away.

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fearnotsnot · 26/02/2020 11:54

I'd have to do a charity shop as well!

nornironlady · 26/02/2020 11:55

As well as using the library I pick book up from charity shops. Only when they cost 50p! I dread reading the same story night after night even though my son has lots of books. He took a selection this morning for WBD.

Settlersofcatan · 26/02/2020 11:56

We don't buy many but have loads. We get a lot as gifts and hand me downs

michaelbaubles · 26/02/2020 11:58

I wouldn't give away books I'd bought new, but I do buy quite a lot from charity shops on spec - some of our local shops do 5 kids books for £1 so it's worth picking them up even if you're not sure about them. They always have Diary of a Wimpy Kid/Horrible History/Enid Blyton that someone will read at some point.

I never ever buy them full price though. Boxsets yes as they're good value. But as DS has been known to read a full boxset in one day he's ruin me if I didn't get them cheap.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 26/02/2020 11:59

Full price books- no. Occasionally buy something that takes their fancy in The Works or a charity shop. They get loads at Christmas from various people, including box sets from the Book People and similar.

I have a small pile of duplicates that could be used for something like that.

LovingLola · 26/02/2020 12:00

We have lots of books. Would have started with baby books and kept buying books all through their childhood and teenage years. I’d say we would have bought a book at least weekly at one stage.

bookmum08 · 26/02/2020 12:03

I found the problem with these book swaps is people would tend to use it as a way to get rid of out grown picture books. So you would ended up with 300 picture books but nothing for older children. The last one I helped with there was probably about half a dozen books that years 4,5 and 6 would of had any interest in.
I can't imagine it's compulsory though. What's the school going to do if your kids don't bring a book in.

katmarie · 26/02/2020 12:04

We get books from charity shops, second hand book shops and from ebay/facebook market place, so they're cheap. We do use the library as well but I like to have a decent selection of bedtime books in the house. I rarely buy new books for the kids unless it's something very specific.

Parker231 · 26/02/2020 12:06

Charity shops are brilliant for children’s books - we bought dozens

chickensandbees · 26/02/2020 12:11

Neither of mine want to give away their books either, charity shop is a good idea.

Devlesko · 26/02/2020 12:14

I bought my 3 dc loads of books, including all the classics, but I hardly spent anything on them.
Are charity shops still selling kids books? I got lots from jumble and car boot sales too. I suppose the equivalent would be ebay, or freeads.

I'd just get one from the charity shop and send that in, they are asking for old books.

CinderellasSecrets · 26/02/2020 12:15

We have more books than we have storage for in fact I have 3 full storage tubs full in my mum's loft too Blush I have always loved reading and books though and although my daughter doesn't seem to share that passion I just can't help myself picking up books that I see that she might enjoy.

WhateverHappenedToBathPearls · 26/02/2020 12:15

We haven't bought many ourselves but have had loads as gifts and hand-me-downs

AlexaShutUp · 26/02/2020 12:18

I bought loads of books for dd when she was little, and would easily have found something to swap, but now she has a kindle so I buy very few physical books at all!

Original poster
Chickenitalia · 26/02/2020 12:31

I have passed on the younger books to my DNs and no hand downs to us as my dc are the oldest amongst the children in the family.
I can well imagine what dd would say if I handed her The Gruffalo or suchlike to take in, lol! I suspect there will be a lot of young books as @bookmum08 says, and unlikely to be much to interest the older children.
Mine get through so many books that the library is perfect, it’s nearby and we can borrow 10 books each, and they don’t tend to want to reread things at the moment. I don’t get time to browse charity shops normally so I am quite looking forward to it, but no idea if they will have many kids books. The Works is a good call if not.
I think it’s a great idea, and I can see why it appeals to staff at school, but I’m not entirely convinced this is going to work as well as they might hope.

OP posts:
cultkid · 26/02/2020 12:33

I have hundreds of books
Most from charity shops and some that I couldn't find I just buy them

They are adored
We do have some duplicates from buying big bundles in the charity shop

I have hundreds of my own books too I always buy them

Starlight39 · 26/02/2020 12:39

I buy quite a lot of books as DS likes to read them more than once. I pick some up in charity shops. I don't use the library too much as DS inevitably wants to keep the same ones for ages and/or we end up forgetting to renew or take back and then have to pay fines. Also, the library opening times are mostly when I'm at work. I'd love a book swap rather than dress up although it would be quite tricky to find one he'd be willing to part with!

SleepDeprivedElf · 26/02/2020 12:41

YANBU, also there's just so much kids toys and STUFF to deal with aside of accumulating a library on top! Of course we use the actual library for books so the kids aren't without.

KenAdams · 26/02/2020 12:41

DD could start her own library. Sometimes I do a borrow from the home library month as she probably has at least 50 books at any given time that she hasn't opened. She will get to them all eventually I'm sure!

stickerqueen · 26/02/2020 12:43

dd 12 has a big collection of books some she would be willing to swap and some she would not. I don't find buying books expensive we buy lots on ebay and in the charity shop we rarely buy new books.
In our local charity shop we get 5 books for £1.00.

RB68 · 26/02/2020 12:45

I have always collected books from Charity Shops for DD even before she was born I was buying classics for her. Yes new books are expensive and a treat - school are not expecting new - just go and get a couple from the charity shops near you - we also raided car boots and 2 good second hand bookshops we have near us

jackparlabane · 26/02/2020 12:45

Books are pennies second-hand on Amazon or Ebay. Also every station I pass through has a shelf of books and a tin to put coins in, so sometimes I'll pick some up on the off-chance.
Some charity shops are cheaper than others - there's a children's one near me which has loads brand new (so Father Christmas stocks up and puts four or five in stockings). Often books which are ignored at the time get read a couple years later.

Charity shops also get more of some series than they can sell (Horrid Henry seems to be a key offender), so some will give you a pile to take away or donate to school so they don't have to pay for disposal.