NOW CLOSED: Talk to us about buying children's books: you could win a £50 JL voucher

[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

[starlingsintheslipstream]

~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 usually, because it's convenient to sit and browse in the evening. We have a local independent childrens bookshop and occasionally I'll take the kids in. I do feel guilty for not using it more but she doesn't tend to be very well stocked and the kids want the books NOW. We love the library and have often bought books on the back of enjoying our borrowed ones.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?
No, they do enough educational stuff at school.

~ 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 looked at it briefly from the link above but haven't explored it much. I have about half a dozen websites I use and don't have much time for anything else

~ Are you not actually interested in buying stuff when you're on Mumsnet - or are we just showing you the 'wrong' resources?
I often buy stuff that other posters have recommended but not often from advertising links

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

[DorisIsWaiting]

We use the library loads (even instead of school library books when dd1 was coming home with dross which she was not able to access). We also 'shop' at car boot sales and charity shops, children grow out of books so quickly and their tastes change as they develop I object to spending much (particularly with 3 dc). The dc's have great fun finding bargain books.


~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need?
Occasionally I love for additional resources for specific things if I feel they need additional help with something but I normally set out and reserach carefully what I want to buy.


TBH I haven't seen the shop, I've probably seen the ad but I ignore pretty much all the advertising unless it is something really eye-catching (i.e. offering a freebie!)

I come on mn to chat, ask for advice and read the reviews but I can't remember ever using mn to shop. I don't have a huge amount of cash spare so tend to avoid things that are likely to make me want 'stuff', i.e. ad's.

[gingercat12]

~ 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, supermarket and Waterstones in this order. We somestimes also use the library.

~ 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?
I did not now about the Pearson section on Mumsnet. Sorry.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?
Not yet.

[telsa]

I buy books from bookshops, charity shops, ABE second hand books online. I buy books from anywhere, but particularly like second-hand and bargain bookstores - provided they have the books I want. I am usually looking for specific books, so online is useful, as it is very searchable.
We use the local library a lot - we used to use it more when the children were not at school, as we were able to visit it much more.


I do look for workbooks, but high quality ones that are imaginative and academically sound. I find the range on Pearson's Mumsnet a bit limited.
Will certainly use the free resources and take it from there!

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

I would be happy to buy when on Mumsnet, but I would want to be sure that it was the best price.

~ Have you bought from MN via Pearson - if so how was it?
I have not.

[Eirwen]

Sorry, I didn't know there was a bookshop. We have always used the Library a lot. The four children have always had new books through the various school bookclubs (usually three or four per year). As they've become older and followed book series, we've tended to use Amazon for birthday and Christmas presents. They all enjoy a rummage in the charity shops and have had some super books for just pennies. The lovely independent book shops in our small town have all closed, leaving just WHS which has a limited selection of children's books. We've also been lucky enough to win several new books in various competitions and giveaways (including some from Mumnset). This is a brilliant bonus. Our middle daughter recently read "Itch" which I won before it was actually released she and absolutely loved it. She told all her friends about it, even though it wasn't yet available in the shops at that time!
As I wasn't aware of the Pearson shop, I can't really comment on it.

[mumah]

I was unaware there was a Pearson bookshop on Mumsnet. But I would have to say I would most likely continue to buy my son's books through Amazon, purely because of the convenience of the app. We use the library regularly and having the ability to just scan the barcode of a book he loves and it is instantly added to our wish list makes it impossibly easy. We have also used 'The Book People' when buying book collections for our son as they offer great value on book sets/collections.

[margia]

We use the library a LOT. But for workbooks etc. I usually just pick up what I see wandering around Tesco/WHSmith etc. I think it is really crucial to be able to see the pages of a workbook before buying to check the level against your own child. I personally hadn't looked for resources via mumsnet, but might in the future now that I'm aware of them.

[KJ123]

I didn't know there was this website. I love my daughter to read, but through experience are now sometimes wary of buying books she sees and wants in shops and then doesn't read. Soi I favour libraries, charity shops or companies/websites like The Book People which are so much cheaper.

[missorinoco]

So following this thread I went onto the link, liked the look of the books and orderd a set. Good price, all straightforward. ITwo days later I receive an invoice email stating there is important information about the order on it, and I should download it. The important information is that the order is out of stock and my request has been listed.

I am now grumpily unimpressed. I appreciate the product may go out of stock, but the delay in informing me, and the way Pearsons did inform me has annoyed me.

I'm unlikely to use the link to go back there unless the product comes back in stock in the near future. The invoice has no information about when they expect stock in again, if at all.

[TheThingUpstairs]

~ 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 use the library a lot, work in one so its very convenient to get books for dc after shift has finished. Also get books from second hand shops. Don't really tend to buy books unless it is a really well loved one.

~ Are you looking for resources to buy to help your child? Or does the free service give you all the support you need? No.

~ 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 was not aware there was one.

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

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

[VivaLeBeaver]

I normally buy books from amazon.

I do buy resources to help dd with her schoolwork.

Now I spend a lot of time on MN, am he every day and I have never heard of Pearson. I had no idea MN were working with you, that mums netters were reviewing stuff, that there was a shop, etc.

Dunno if you have ads on MN as I don't notice the ads, have tuned them out completely. Sorry. So I guess that makes me not very interested in buying stuff. However I will go and look now as am actually interested.

[VivaLeBeaver]

Ok, have had a look. Clicked on maths and English which are surely the main areas and it's only Carole vordeman books. Which in my opinion are crap. Bought one once, it was cluttered, didn't explain stuff well and most importantly it wasn't fun. Collins and letts books are much better.

So maybe you need to expand your range?

[AnnMumsnet]

Thanks for all the comments - much appreciated - am pleased to say CervixWithASmile's name was pulled out the hat and she wins the £50 JL voucher.

[Pinot]

Congrats Cervix :)

[CervixWithASmile]

Thank you! Overdue pregnant woman now very happy! Never normally win anything!

[missorinoco]

I'm back to revoke my opinion. Pearson kindly looked into the delay, and sent me some complimentary reading material, that looks great; currently it's a little too advanced for my three year old to start, but my five year old is not too old for some of it. The learning attachments such as Alphaphonic letters are a hit. I have also just received the book set, when it came back in stock.

The books are interesting and readable, and my five year old was quite excited about some of the titles. I think having books such as Harry And the Dinosaurs and Lego books included is a great idea.