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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To buy this many books?

73 replies

Sonder · 22/10/2014 00:48

My son is 3 (4 in January) and loves being read to. Reading is our favourite activity to do together.

He already has a bookcase full of books (we've read all of them multiple times) but throughout the year we've come up with a wishlist of new books and I was planning to buy them all as Christmas presents.

So am I being unreasonable to buy 135 books for my son (and any future children)? It will cost about £150 in total and while money is a bit tight I'd rather buy the books than cheap toys that will end up broken and ignored within a month or so. Plus I know grandparents and other relatives will be buying him various toys so he won't be missing out.

OP posts:
Thumbwitch · 22/10/2014 00:51

135 books in one go??? yes, YABU. IMO, and I say this as an avid reader, that's like giving him too many chocolates at once.

KingJoffreysBloodshotEye · 22/10/2014 00:51

135 books is quite a lot!

Personally I feel it's too many.

But children do love books. And it is up to you.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 22/10/2014 00:51

Why is this thread posted in A.I.B.U.

Or course it's not unreasonable. especially as he enjoys books.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 22/10/2014 00:52

If you want and are able to afford it, fine, but id be reading a new one every other night for a year, rather than wrapping them all up for christmas.

OldLadyKnowsSomething · 22/10/2014 00:54

As a voracious reader myself, I opened this thread prepared to say of course yanbu. But 135 books, in one go, for a 4yo, I think would be overwhelming. 2-3 books a week for the next year would add up to much the same, but wouldn't you be better off borrowing from the library (assuming you have one nearby) rather than buying so many?

TheSpottedZebra · 22/10/2014 00:55

That is a lot, yes. A lot of books, a lot of money. And you said money is tight. It's an overwhelming amount of books and will be no better received than, say, 10 books.

What about using the local library? I feel really strongly that we should use our libraries as much as we can to show our support for the service.

DoJo · 22/10/2014 00:58

Do you go to the library? Because that's a great way to test out books - it's unlikely that he will love all 135 equally - and then maybe buy the ones that he seems to like best. I wouldn't bother buying 135 at a time as that will be too many to take in all on one day where other presents are involved as well. If you do buy them, might it be easier to stagger them between Christmas and his birthday, seeing as they aren't far apart.

Thumbwitch · 22/10/2014 00:58

I will retract slightly, if you are buying large booksets from The Book People at reduced cost. I did give Ds1 50 books in one go, because it was the Thomas the Tank Engine set, which contains 50 books. And the Beatrix Potter set has about 30 in it, iirc.

But I still say it's too many at once - just give him one bookset at a time!

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 22/10/2014 00:59

I think 135 in one go is a bit much to be honest. My kids love books. They love nothing more than getting a book as a treat from a shopping trip, and they both love new book day at school when they get to bring a new reading book home. But even they would find 135 over kill in one day.

Having said that though, I am basing that on my experience with my children, who would love a 60/40 split between books and colouring stuff (or creative toys - anything that makes mess).
I think at Christmas I would do a mix of maybe 60% books 40% toys / creative stuff etc. I think half the fun of Christmas is in the variety of gifts under the tree.

It depends on what you think your child would want. If he would only be interested in the books under the tree, then get just books. You know him best.

spangledboots · 22/10/2014 00:59

I'd buy a few special ones to become regular favourites until he grows out of them and borrow the rest from the library.

Surely if he loves books going to the library would be a mega adventure for him too?

Original poster
Sonder · 22/10/2014 01:00

Well, he wouldn't receive them all in one go. We tend to spread presents out over Christmas Eve, Christmas day and boxing day. Then his birthday is 10 days later.

DH thinks I should buy them though out the year instead of all at once and that it is unreasonable to spend so much money on them. I just think it's easier to do it now while there are good sales and offers on. It's not like we are going to sit down and read them all in one night! :)

We do use the library a lot but it is not amazing, it is quite small. I also like to buy the ones we love and since we are planning to have more children they'll be used for years.

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TwelveLeggedWalk · 22/10/2014 01:03

Have you gone mad in The Book People sale? I can see how you could get to 135 quite easily, but even for me, a complete book nut, with 2 children, 135 is a bit much.

If they are lovely gift sets and on offer you could always buy them now and put them aside so you have one for Christmas, one for the next birthday, maybe one as a special treat some time if he's poorly etc.

We have a slightly embarrassing number of books in this house and my 2 still seem to go through phases of fixating on the same ones for a couple of weeks, I don't think they get pleasure from 'New' stories the same we do (or need to stay sane reading them!).

Original poster
Sonder · 22/10/2014 01:03

Also the library only has children's books in English. I like to read to him in Danish and French too, so we have to buy those.

He will be getting other things but from me I'd just like to get books.

OP posts:
Whippet81 · 22/10/2014 01:03

Whilst it sounds a lot to be honest if just be delighted he was so keen - as to if it's a lot of money well to some it is to others it's pocket change but I reckon a lot of children get at least this if not more spent on them for Christmas and is personally rather it went on books that he wants and that will give you months of enjoyment as opposed to some plastic tat he'll be bored of in a week.

I would encourage his reading as much as I could.

TheRealJoanWarburton · 22/10/2014 01:04

Your books are around a pound each?
If they're beautiful books that you would have bought at a higher price, go for it.

ByTheWishingWell · 22/10/2014 01:04

YANBU if that includes big sets. There are 23 books in the Peter Rabbit collection, but in a presentation box together, they count as 1 present. I wouldn't buy and wrap 135 individual books though, I do agree that would be a bit much and possibly overwhelming.

Original poster
Sonder · 22/10/2014 01:05

Oh, I definitely won't be wrapping them all individually!
Yes, I want to buy some sets from The Book People!

OP posts:
TheSpottedZebra · 22/10/2014 01:06

You know it's excessive, that's why you're trying to justify it!

LittleprincessinGOLDrocks · 22/10/2014 01:06

Have you asked your son what he wants for Christmas / his birthday?

I don't mean to be rude, but you seem to be planning for children yet to be born, by buying for your son. What does he want? I know my 4 year old has very strong ideas about what he would like for his birthday if you ask him (mostly cars, trains, Lego, crayons, and books, but even with his love of books it is last on his list).

Thumbwitch · 22/10/2014 01:07

However much I love books, if I had a heap of presents to open and each one was books, I'd start getting a bit pissed off after about 3, I reckon.

Buy them all now, no problem, good idea to save money on them while you can. Give them to him throughout the year, not just the following 2 weeks though!

ArsenicChaseScream · 22/10/2014 01:07

I'd do it

ByTheWishingWell · 22/10/2014 01:08

X-posts. I don't think it's too bad spread about a bit, and covering both birthday and Christmas.

Maybe compromise with DH and get them all now, but keep some aside to give him at a later date when he's read the Christmas and birthday ones? Makes sense if they're on sale now and you'll end up buying them anyway.

Just off to nosy at the Book People sale now... Grin

ArsenicChaseScream · 22/10/2014 01:10

Oh you're giving them all to him at Christmas but not wrapping them individually? Then that might be slightly excessive.

I certainly would stockpile that many in lovely bargain, Book People, batches.

But to give tem all at once? Bit overwhelming even for the most ardent bookworm.

Spread out over a year though (Xmas, Easter, B'day, Just because) seems okay.

ScreamEggsAndHam · 22/10/2014 01:25

£135 in one year is a heck of a lot in books over 12 months although I can completely see where you're coming from.
If finances allowed, I'd probably be the same. As it is, I probably spend around £100 on books spread across the entire year. Not just Christmas.
Books for Christmas is perfectly fine. Mine love them. Kids need suitable stuff to enjoy at Christmas. Not what adults think they should have.

Original poster
Sonder · 22/10/2014 01:33

He doesn't really understand Christmas. We don't really celebrate Christmas (or easter etc. although grandparents do), we just do family time and gifts and fun activities throughout December and January! We all have our birthdays in those months so it is like one big celebration. It's just easier to refer to it all by those events, I guess. So maybe he won't sit down and unwrap all of these books at once, some will just get put on the bookcase for a surprise at a later date, some I will save for long car trips maybe.

I'm going to end up buying all the books anyway, I think. Even if it is unreasonable! I just want to get him something that will last, that I know he loves. Especially when other people are buying him toys and all that fun stuff. What is the difference if I buy them all now or buy 2-3 every month? :)

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