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[AnnMumsnet]

As you may or may not know, we have been working with Pearson Education over the last year or so.

Pearson is an educational publisher - they have provided many worksheets here for example, and free e-books [link], as well as working with MN to provide information on curriculum review as well as lots more see here.

Some Mumsnetters have been reviewing the books - for KS1 and KS2 (and Scottish equivalents too). These books (and more) are for sale in the Pearson shop on Mumsnet (and elsewhere).

They say "you have fed back that you like support we are giving you monthly, we've had 100s of positive MN reviews of the packs of books in the shop, and there's been some fantastic feedback from Mnetters that our books have really helped their children learn to read"

HOWEVER...we're not seeing loads of visitors to the shop!

Please take a couple of minutes to let us know why. For example....

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?
~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?
~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?
~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?
~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?

Any feedback is welcome.

Everyone who adds a comment will be entered into a prize draw where one winner will get a £50 John Lewis voucher as a thank you.

Thanks, MNHQ

PS: here's the link to the Pearson shop on MN if you want to check it out

[inmysparetime]

I get children's books from the library, charity shops, swap with friends, the book people, relatives, birthday presents usually.
I very occasionally buy new books at full price from Amazon or take the DCs to a bookshop with their WBD tokens.
I haven't looked on the Pearson website as I never click on the banner ads etc. I am generally on the iPod so most web pages are unwieldy anyway.
My DCs read so many books, generally quite hefty tomes too, that there's no way I could satisfy their appetites with a stream of new books, and I'd have nowhere to store them. I cannot afford a kindle either, especially for the DCs as they take books to bed and I'd worry about a kindle under a pillow (although if MN needs a kindle testing I would gladly do it).

[whomovedmychocolate]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?

We own a lot of books, and we buy them in general from the book People (great phonics packs) or Amazon. Simply out of habit. If I had a subscription which got me great deals on children's books I would look at it though.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?

All the stuff they are rushing ahead on (maths and english). Also stories for bedtime. Ones with 25 pages or less (she read them and if they are any longer I fall asleep.

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?

I did visit initially but did not find what I wanted quickly (the search was a bit crap) and it didn't appear to be 'my sort of site'. So I left).

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?
Wrong resources. Also I'm on here to be distracted from the little buggers frankly. Don't make Mumsnetting a 'worthy experience'

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?
Nope.

[SurvivalOfTheUnfittest]

I didn't know the shop was there but come on M N for chat and advice, rather than shopping. I buy books from Amazon, supermarkets and the book people. I'm always looking for the cheapest way to buy the books I want. The DC are not old enough to need 'educational' books yet.

[Merrylegs]

DD and I have been reviewing the Pearson KS2 books so I knew they had a presence on MN but I hadn't found the link to the shop until the OP here.

I just clicked through to have a look - the fiction books we would likely get from the library, but DD has asked for some KS2 maths SATS revision guides The Pearson ones looked useful and somehow 'friendlier' than the guides Amazon were offering. Also reasonably priced (although I was hoping for an MN partner discount code at check out!)

HOWEVER when I clicked through to create my account (I got as far as entering my address and ticking it as the one for delivery) it took me to a 'site server error page' so I haven't managed to order anything. I have to go out now but will maybe try again later.

[Blatherskite]

I had no idea there was a shop!

Pity, as I'm a sucker for anything that might help DS at school.

Also not sure where these worksheets have been hiding - I'm off for a look!

[BenedictsCumberbitch]

I didnt know of the link or Pearsons. When we buy books it tends to be from Amazon, Waterstones, Borders (as was) or even the supermarket if they have something in I think the kids would like. I don't really think of Mumsnet to buy stuff from, I never click on adverts unless by mistake.

[Selky]

Another one who didn't know there was a shop!

We use the library a lot for books so DS can browse and see what piques his interest. I would use the internet for a particular title that I was sure he would like but probably not otherwise.

[daisychicken]

I didn't know about the shop but having looked at it... I would have bought from the shop - sorry! There doesn't seem to be much choice, the oldest age range section has books that would be too young in reading level for my 10 year old and my 7/8 year old wouldn't be interested in the choice you offer.

I buy books from the book people, amazon, supermarkets, the works - any where we can find suitable books at a good price! We also use the library.

[daisychicken]

Sorry - supposed to say I wouldn't have bought from the shop - sorry!

[PuzzleRocks]

I buy from Amazon because they are usually the cheapest place. I had no idea there was a Pearson shop on here. If the prices are competitive then I am very interested as we buy a lot of workbooks.

[PuzzleRocks]

Just had a quick look and my first impressions are good. It looks like a fab resource and I particularly like that they have explained book bandings.

[PuzzleRocks]

In fact I have bookmarked so we can read some of the free e-books when DD1 gets home and I am almost certain to place an order come payday.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere? We have a lovely library but use it far less since the children started school (aged 8 and 6 now) because of less free time available to go there. We have been given many over the years, also get them from charity shops, Amazon (new and secondhand), The Book People (sets) and Waterstones (to support the High Street and because the children like spending time in there looking at the books)

Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need? I have never heard of Pearsons, by and large I go to MN via a bookmark to Threads I'm On and never look at the rest of the site, especially I ignore adverts. I do go on the internet to find literacy and numeracy sorksheets etc, but usually only use free ones

Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it? - Never found it

Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources? Yes and no, I come here for information but frequently follow up links in threads which may end up with buying things. I don't really look elsewhere on the site and my eyes tend to skim over the sticky threads at the top of Active Threads.

Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it? - no but I will go and investigate now.

[mistlethrush]

~ Where do you normally buy books:
DS likes to choose the books he's getting with tokens so we go to a bookshop with a good range. We have two different catalogues dropping samples at the office and I pick up some extras there - eg set of 15 Morpurgo books for £15. The Bookpeople do a catalogue at school, and there is a booksale both of which help the school. We are going to start using the library more, particularly over the summer holidays - although DS has plenty of books coming from school, with two library choices a week on top of his normal reading books (not that he counts the reading books as 'books' mind you).

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?
I've bought a couple of workbooks, but have tended to get these when there's a 2 for 1 offer at WHSmith or similar.

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?
Have looked at shop previously, and knew it was there. Its not very well laid out - if you click on (for instance) 7 - 9 you end up with books out of that age range being suggested (in all categories) which doesn't instill much confidence in the ability of the supplier to put the right thing in a delivery. You can't see which books you're getting with the fiction in some of the packs so I wouldn't get these in case DS already had them or had read them.

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?
I don't come on MN to shop.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?
No, sorry!

[PeskyPiskie]

I didn't know that Pearson's had an online shop. I will definitely review this further when I've got some more time. My DS is learning to read (very slowly) with ORT at school, he's in YR1. It will take me a while to work out what level he is on with Pearson.
I usually get books for him from the Library or the excellent independent bookshop in our town.
It wouldn't usually occur to me to buy things through MN. I usually look to MN for recommendations of places to buy and for advice.
I think I will probably buy some things from Pearsons in the future, they look good value for money too.

[Merrylegs]

Gah!

I came back to re-order as DD v keen to get these books asap - this time I got all the way through to inputting my card details which went through fine but on the v. last screen they wanted my 'verified by VISA password' -which I have never had and don't know, so I had to cancel the screen. Now don't know if my card has been charged - I am giving up with this, sorry!
(Amazon one click is so much easier!)

[iseenodust]

Tend to use the library. If buying we have a local cut price independent book store in town - think browsing is part of the fun/learning. For something specific tend to use Amazon. Again like the facility to see first few pages/illustrations.

Didn't know Pearson had shop here or of free resources. Had a quick look and think the 6 books for £12.99 look good value. Would be helpful if had a bit about the stories and number of pages as would use this to guage level for DS.

Don't tend to click on any of the banner ads, sorry.

[TheRhubarb]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?

We generally tend to browse charity shops for childrens books as children 'grow out' of books very quickly so second hand shops have a very good turnover of kids books. Other than that, we use the library every month and if we find an author we really like, we will consider buying those books.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?

In the past I have bought educational books for the kids, but I've found that once they are home and have done their homework, they have little interest in doing yet more work. Over the summer holidays however there is a case in using them to ensure that they don't forget everything they've been taught and it's at this time that I would consider buying recommended learning resources.

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?

The shop is easy to navigate and has some interesting resources, however I have seen the same resources (Carol Voderman books for example) on sale in Sainsburys for cheaper and of course from Amazon. I'm afraid that price does matter when you are desperately trying to cut back on expenditure as a family. A discount for Mumsnetters might tempt me though......!

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?

If things are recommended and reviewed by Mumsnetters then I do take note but I think it's just because we're in a recession and everyone is cutting back. Buying extra resources for kids is a luxury, it's not actually really necessary as there are free online resources you can use and some schools are willing to photocopy or even lend you books to help them at home.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?

Sorry, I haven't done.

[sphil]

Another one here who didnt know about the Pearsons shop on MN. We buy quite a lot of books for Ds1 but normally go to the second hand section on Amazon, where you can often get books for 1p + postage. I'm also an avid charity shop hunter!

I do buy resources occasionally as both my DSes have SEN, but tend to do my own research and then trawl the net to find the cheapest way of getting hold of them.

But I am going to look at the Pearson shop now - will come back if there's anything to add.

[Tamoo]

I didn't know the shop was there.

Re. buying books - I buy a lot for DS from boots fairs and charity shops. If there is a particular title or subject he is interested in, then I will compare prices in the usual outlets. Tbh we always end up buying from Amazon or possibly Abe Books if it is something old/rare/out of print. We only buy from high street booksellers if we have a book token to spend.

You have a point about not coming to MN to shop - I come here for the Talk pages and the only shop links I click on tend to be ones that come up in discussions, if they are items that are of interest to me anyway and they are also well recommended. And as others have said, DS gets reading homework already, we do that, the other reading we do together is our own 'fun' stuff (eg, atm it's a lot of myth and monster books, as well as various non-fiction; he takes so much more pleasure out of these than school-issued titles and they are just as 'educational' both in their subject matter as well as for the reading practice).

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?

We buy mostly from Amazon. This is because our local Waterstones, depsite being quite large, is rubbish, and focuses on piling high all the 3 for 2 deals, instead of having varied and interesting stock. there are no local independents left.

We used the library a lot though, often travelling to the next town to use that brach because the stock is better.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?

No. We don't see a need to do worksheets etc at home. I'd rather dd1 just got fun books that she's chosen herself, than anything too reading schemey, as the stories can be a bit rubbish.

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?

As above, we're not really in the market for what's there.

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?

I do look to MN for discounts, and would buy books.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?

No.

[bebemoojem]

I also did not know there was a shop.

I tend to go on Amazon if think of it while in the house and want a book I'm already familiar with, and want it quickly. If I don't want it quickly, or don't know it, then I'll go into town and go to Waterstones to get a look at it.

On the link and browsing a bit I noticed that the shop is a bit basic and not all of the links work.
Also, it would be nice if you could go into an age group and see all of the books in the 'range.' I know you're not 'supposed to' but I often judge and I often am attracted to books because of their covers. If I'm not looking for something specific, then being able to see a choice of books at once which aren't 'themed' into phonic, numbers, etc. is titillating and can get me looking deeper. (Just like in the shops where they have displays of hot titles, new releases etc. for certain ages)

[BigBadBear]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?

Amazon and the Book People mostly, they are cheap and easy to navigate. We go to the library once every few weeks, and the DDs will each get out five or six books.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?

A bit of both. I have bought some "learning to read" packs from the Book People, and use Amazon for other stuff. I have also inherited a lot of children's books from my family - in fact we get too much passed on to us so I often sort them and then pass on what we don't want to DD1's school and DD2's nursery.

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?

I have looked at the Pearson shop on MN, but it is too narrow for me as I prefer to read user reviews and see books from more than one publisher. It's not very easy to navigate and there is no discount, so not really any incentive to use it rather than Amazon or somewhere else.

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?

Not really interested in buying. To me, MN is a great resource in terms of reviews and chat, but I would then source the best supplier for me for something I wanted to buy - the cheapest, closest etc.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?

No, sorry.

[SuperSesame]

~ Where do you normally buy books from for your child and why do you buy from there? Do you use the library a lot or borrow from elsewhere?

I usually buy books for my toddler in newsagent stands, on Amazon, Waterstones or from independent bookshops

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?

No, not looking for resourses at the moment, but probably will in the future.

~ Is it that you've not found the shop, or if you've gone there is it too difficult to find your way around? Or any other issues with it?

Never heard of Pearsons's shop on Mumsnet. I have now though so I will have a look.

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?

If something caught my eye then I would probably take a look. I buy online a lot generally but not yet through Mumsnet.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?

No I haven't