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Children's books

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Original poster

do your children like books as presents?

53 replies

sallyseton · 16/06/2010 21:00

mine do, not sure about the wisdom of giving them to others as gifts though! would yours be happy or would they prefer something more fun?

OP posts:
harpsichordcarrier · 16/06/2010 21:02

yes, they do. Books are fun, surely?

thisisyesterday · 16/06/2010 21:06

yes, mine love them.

PandaG · 16/06/2010 21:06

yes, but then mine like reading! often ask for more books in a series they are reading as presents

smokinaces · 16/06/2010 21:07

Both mine love them as presents, and I often give them as presents to others. But I love books myself and take the kids to the library all the time, so thye have grown up thinking they are fun

TrinityTrinityTrinity · 16/06/2010 21:08

yes all mine love to get books as presents

roisin · 16/06/2010 21:18

Mine (11 and 12) love to get books as presents from me, because I know what they've got and I know what they'll appreciate.

After the age of around 8 or 9, I think you have to know a child very well to successfully buy them a book and be certain it will be a success.

Book Tokens are a wonderful invention!

LadyBiscuit · 16/06/2010 21:21

Yes definitely! I would much prefer they got books as presents rather than plastic tatt toys

overmydeadbody · 16/06/2010 21:23

DS's favourite presents are books

ZZZenAgain · 16/06/2010 21:23

mine would be happy to get books

KaraTrace · 16/06/2010 21:23

Yes my 3YO loves books

Collision · 16/06/2010 21:30

Both of mine hate getting books as presents as they think it is a waste of a present when they could get plastic tat!

Bloody ungrateful imvho!

They think that they should just have books anyway which is not something DH or I have instilled into them!

Brats.

They are 8 and 5.

MarshaBrady · 16/06/2010 21:32

Yes. New books are great.

TheFallenMadonna · 16/06/2010 21:34

They do, but it depends on the book TBH. Some books aren't fun.

IlanaK · 16/06/2010 21:36

Mine love books as presents and I give them too.

qk · 16/06/2010 21:37

My 4yo had a birthday party and the presents he liked best were lego, playmobil and a Ben10 alien. He also got a book and did not look at it at all - he was far more thrilled with the toys. He does enjoy looking at books with me, but does not see them as exciting presents.

People seem to think that books are the best presents for mental/educational stimulation, but I think that the fine motor skills/model making skills etc that lego helps with are at least as important at this stage. My DS has never watched Ben10, but he imagines what his aliens are up to and I think that is very important as well. I'll prepare for a flaming for this next comment: there are a lot of book snobs on MN!

WoodlandFaerie · 16/06/2010 21:37

yes, dd loves to read them/have them read for her and DS loves to chew them (4 and 6 months)

Fennel · 16/06/2010 21:39

Mine do like books as presents, but often we already have the books they're given. so try and stick to slighlty less obvious choices as a keen reader might already have quite a few of the more popular books.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 16/06/2010 21:43

One of DS's favourite birthday presents last year was a 2nd hand Richard Scarry book. He is v into his books tho and desperate to be able to read (just coming up to 4). I am bookish type too and the library is one of our favourite outings.

I would (and have) thought twice about buying books for children I don't know so well, as sometimes they can be see as a bit of a 'worthy' present...

maktaitai · 16/06/2010 21:45

IMO books are great presents if you are giving them a)because you love the book itself and want to share it, b) because you think the child will love it or c) you want to give a nice present but can't afford a toy. The latter is often why I give a book,and why not?

maktaitai · 16/06/2010 21:46

would agree with fennel that yet another copy of The gruffalo is pointless unless you know the child doesn't have it. a book from your own childhood is more personal IMO.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 16/06/2010 21:48

Would qualify my previous post by saying that I and my DC think that books are a great present, just that not everybody feels the same way...

SJisontheway · 16/06/2010 21:52

Mine do - but they are quite young and easily pleased. My nieces burst into tears last Christmas when they opened my present to them of a series of books which their mother had asked me to get for them. Not every child's dream gift I guess.

taffetacat · 16/06/2010 21:54

Some books make great presents,others don't, IME

For eg, the DC and I love the Usborne See Inside series and the 1001 things to spot series. As "active" books, they feel a bit more special and present -y if this makes sense.

I don't work for Usborne btw, I just really like these 2 series of books.

snorkie · 16/06/2010 22:03

one does and one doesn't.

ChippyMinton · 16/06/2010 22:05

Mine love getting books but they describe themselves as bookworms, read every night and their beds are full of books.

But I am a bit wary of giving books as presents, because I suspect most children are not as keen.

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