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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:
DesLynamsMoustache · 26/02/2020 12:46

Books are what I spend much of my disposable income on! DD is only 1 and has two full storage bags full of them Blush We must have about 40. To be fair, we do read at least 10 a day and she plays with them a lot by herself!

I have hundreds, some I'd be happy to give away, others I wouldn't. Bookshelves crammed with books give me joy, and I grew up in a house bursting with books so not having many books is an alien concept to me Grin

DonnaDarko · 26/02/2020 12:48

DS is only 3 and I reckon he has 50 books. I go into The Works every time I see a store - their books are so cheap. I also get them from charity shops.

Smartanimal · 26/02/2020 12:52

Is this book swapping for good or do they swap the books back after a while? If they don’t, then I think it’s unreasonable from the school to request children to give one of their favourite books away for something they might not even like.

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ineedaholidaynow · 26/02/2020 12:56

If you are on Facebook there are usually local selling sites that you can get reasonably cheap books on too.

If you have lots of books that you no longer need (I know this doesn't apply to you OP) maybe ask school if they would like them. The Primary schools in my area are asking parents to donate books to the school libraries as none of the schools have any budget this year for books Sad

Barbararara · 26/02/2020 12:57

No shortage of books here, but my dc would also struggle to give away their favourites so the kind of books they would be willing to donate probably wouldn’t be all that popular or else very childish.

Original poster
Chickenitalia · 26/02/2020 12:58

I’m guessing it’s just to swop on this occasion and that’s it, don’t see how they could swop back easily tbh. I also don’t think there is any expectation, more that this is being promoted as being so much easier than a costume and more inclusive. I’m not convinced.
I’m perfectly happy to go and get something to swop btw, it just struck me that it’s being assumed that people have books to spare just like that. My home has plenty of books, my kids read constantly and very well, as do both dh and I, but we don’t have books to give away!

OP posts:
user1493494961 · 26/02/2020 13:14

Charity shops usually have a good selection of children's books, I'm sure you'll be able to find something.

CountFosco · 26/02/2020 13:15

We have masses of books and it took me about 10 minutes to go through the playroom bookshelves to find ~20 books for the school book sale (I may have a book buying problem, every trip into town involves a visit to the bookshop). If you don't have many books go to a charity shop and get your DC more books.

A book swap seems like a nice idea, guess the aim is to get the DC to talk about the books they are swapping so they get ideas of what to read from each other. But as a parent I would want them to take in books they aren't so keen or at least had grown out of.

goose1964 · 26/02/2020 13:35

My grandson(3 today) has a large collection of books. We're a family of readers though.

vampirethriller · 26/02/2020 13:49

I get them from charity shops too. I've made a mini library for when she's older.

Solongtoshort · 26/02/2020 13:51

This is such a great idea, l am going to suggest it for next years world book day.

Iggly · 26/02/2020 13:53

I buy shed loads of books as well as use the library. I love books and it’s the one thing I’m extravagant about.

I have cut down though and try and use the library more but it isn’t that well stocked.

Most of the kids books are actually secondhand so yes I would have books for a book swap.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 26/02/2020 14:39

@Chickenitalia your local library sounds good- at ours children only can borrow three and they only have a few shelves of children books in each age group.

Most of our children's book collection (a bookcase each plus an extra in the spare room) was acquired while living abroad without the same access to books in English so we would stick up while visiting the UK.

BlackInk · 26/02/2020 14:49

We have literally hundreds of books for DS (10) and DD (8) and could easily find a couple that neither of them want to hang on to.

They read books from school and from the library, but we buy lots from charity shops too. Also both ask for books for birthdays and Christmas. They read A LOT and I'm happy to buy them a 2nd hand book if we're in town. Sometimes I buy books for them that they try and don't like as they're pretty fussy about what they will read. Also lots hanging around that they have frown out of – I try only to hang on to special books, but still have about 100 picture books that I can't part with!

Purpleartichoke · 26/02/2020 14:55

Nothing wrong with utilizing the library instead of buying books.

Oldraver · 26/02/2020 16:33

I was a big buyer of books (still am and lucky I'm currently working for a publisher)

Though I probably wouldn't want to swap any

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