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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Buying children books for presents

75 replies

ToddlerIs2 · 22/05/2017 22:40

Is it really mean?

Bought a friends DC a couple of books for their birthday and she seems really... unappreciative? Because there educational not fun... Except books ARE fun, even at 1. Surely? It makes noise and is bright and they can play read it and books are awesome

OP posts:
Muddlingalongalone · 22/05/2017 23:20

I love books as gifts (giving and receiving)
I do find it difficult unless it's someone you know well though to find something unusual enough that it's not a duplicate.

Some people don't read themselves, don't enjoy books & stories and don't value them. Each to their own I guess.....I have to admit I was surprised how few children were familiar with some "classics" when dd1 was in reception though.

ImogenTubbs · 22/05/2017 23:26

Books are completely awesome at every age.

DJBaggySmalls · 22/05/2017 23:27

I feel your pain. I bought a friends 5 yo a copy of Where the Wild Things Are and got a snarky comment about it giving him nightmares!

QueenOfRubovia · 22/05/2017 23:29

Children can get hours of fun out of a book. You can read it over and over again. And again. Everyday. For ever and ever. At least that's what it felt like. Brilliant gift for a baby/toddler.

Notcontent · 22/05/2017 23:44

Your friend is weird, not you. A book is a perfect present for a one year old.

Iwasjustabouttosaythat · 23/05/2017 04:01

A book is my favourite to receive and give! It's so nice to have something different to read to them. Of course you do have to make an effort about what the book is. My DM has bought some rubbish that's gone straight in the bin. I'm not even going to pass on a book that tells kids maths is bad for imagination. Hmm

Original poster
ToddlerIs2 · 23/05/2017 09:36

Peter Rabbit for those wondering what I picked. Classic. DD had the entire collection read to them before discharge from hospital at 12 weeks

OP posts:
SaucyJack · 23/05/2017 09:49

Is performance present buying a thing?

Kokusai · 23/05/2017 09:50

Next time buy them the loudest, biggest, most obnoxious gift you can :-) HTH

AppleOfMyEye10 · 23/05/2017 09:50

Yanbu,my DS is not even one and he actually loves books. We read to him every day and you know he just picked up what a book Is and he's only 9 months but can turn a page, lift flaps and sit through a story. I love it as a gift over more toys which they get bored of so quickly and then it just accumulates.

I hate that mentality that books are mean gifts and even worse punishments.

BoredOnMatLeave · 23/05/2017 09:52

Well my DD will be 1 soon as I would be very grateful for a book! Especially as DD seems to be showing an interest in them now, not just eating them.

fizzytonicplease · 23/05/2017 10:02

Great gift, when people ask me what to get DS who is 2 I've asked for books or book tokens.

Northgate · 23/05/2017 10:12

Books are great presents for babies and small children, although there is a risk of duplication (I admit struggling to feel appreciative when we received our 5th identical copy of The Very Hungry Caterpillar)

I prefer book tokens now the DC are getting older - our 5 yr old has had book tokens as presents a few times now, and he's loved being able to choose his own books at the bookshop.

Cagliostro · 23/05/2017 10:24

I'm with you OP!

We bumped into my DCs' old teacher with her 2yo boy. When she'd left to have the baby we had chosen some board book versions of their favourites to give the baby. When we bumped into them she said to her DS, look J these are the children who gave you [book]. Really made me smile as it's obviously become a favourite :) much loved stories like that last a lifetime

thethoughtfox · 23/05/2017 10:43

Says more about her than it does about you.

londonfeather · 23/05/2017 10:51

I love books as presents and I always buy them for friends kids (though often with something else). One of my mums best friends bought be a book every year until I was 18 with a handwritten note in each - I still have the full set of 18. And I've started doing something similar with a close friends of mine's daughter.

deadringer · 23/05/2017 10:51

I love my dc getting books as gifts. I find that even if a child isn't into books they will often enjoy looking at a book about something they do like. Thomas the tank or fairies or whatever.

Hillarious · 23/05/2017 10:56

It's really good when your kids are independent readers and they're bought books that have been recommended and enjoyed by your friends' children. We came across the Wimpy Kid books this way when our friends in the US sent them as birthday presents and the kids really enjoyed reading them.

When a member of our book group had her first baby, our collective gift was a selection of our favourite children's books. How else would you know what to buy without your friends' tried and tested suggestions? I'd never have come across The Conquerors or Farmer Duck. Who needs George Orwell!

nannybeach · 23/05/2017 11:00

Always reading.About 15 years ago, got into row with H buying presents for his nephew 8, bought a book, was told he didnt want books, he wanted computer games, well, they were wy out of my price range. GD for Christmas got the Rohald Dahl set, loves them, I read for pleasure and to learn stuff.

Creatureofthenight · 23/05/2017 11:02

I almost always buy books for kids, I wish people would buy them for me more often!

kel1493 · 23/05/2017 11:02

Several people have got my little boy books. He's only 20 months but he loves them. We try to read him a bedtime story every night, and encourage him to look at them during the day and we read to him.

Fliptophead · 23/05/2017 11:05

DId she say thank you? How did she not seem appreciative. A book is a nice gift but I wouldn't make a huge song and dance about it either though.

1nsanityscatching · 23/05/2017 11:08

I always loved it when people bought books for my dc and they were always happy to receive book tokens later on. I'm now passing on my dd's books to my neighbour's granddaughter and they all seem pretty happy about receiving them.
I do think though that books aren't seen as valued gifts by some people tbh. My own adult sons always roll their eyes when I ask for books as gift suggestions for birthdays and Christmas as they want to buy "a proper present" not understanding I suppose how books, for an avid reader, are the best present in the world.

ExPresidents · 23/05/2017 11:08

I love getting books for my DC and buying them as presents. Books are wonderful. Reading is a joy. You can never have too many books!

londonmummy1966 · 23/05/2017 11:08

Books are a great present for a 1 year old. My best freind bought dd1 a couple back from the US for her 1st birthday - one on colours and one a story about a little girl getting dressed. Both were much loved and both (now teenage) dds can still recite the tale of Ella Sarah and her weird clothing choices...

For 3+ I often get an activity book - keep an eye out for good ones at museums etc.

Once children get to KS2 I usually try and find books that I enjoyed but are out of print eg the Jean Plaidy children's books or Mara Kay (although the wonderful Masha has now been reprinted). After that a book token so they can choose their own.