DD's party - which book sets are best to get instead of party backs IYO?

[Hulababy]

In our opinion, which book sets do you recommended instead of party packs.

DD will be 4 next month. We have up to about 20-25 children coming, aged between 8 months and 6 years. The majority are aged 3 or 4 though. I will sort out the babies and the older children seperately, away from the lucky dip type book chest.

Was going to use \link{http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?langId=100&storeId=10001&catalogId=10051\The Book People} based on everyone's recommendations here.

But anyone got any good recommendations. Don't want to spend a fortune as have lots to buy for, and definitely want to spend less than £1 per book!

Thank you :)

I thought about \link{http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&productId=13048&langId=100&categoryId=10012&parent_category_rn=10010&fromPage=category&top_category=\these} for the older ones. Could keep the spares for DD.

For the 3/4 year olds:

\link{http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&productId=11010&langId=100&categoryId=10051&parent_category_rn=10010&fromPage=category&top_category=\Active Readers set?}

\link{http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&productId=20540&langId=100&categoryId=10007&parent_category_rn=10006&fromPage=category&top_category=\Usbourne Tales}

\link{http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&productId=17598&langId=100&categoryId=10007&parent_category_rn=10006&fromPage=category&top_category=\Picture books}

\link{http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&productId=22024&langId=100&categoryId=10057&parent_category_rn=10006&fromPage=category&top_category=\Another picture book set}

\link{http://www.thebookpeople.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10001&productId=10331&langId=100&categoryId=10057&parent_category_rn=10006&fromPage=category&top_category=\Puffin Picture collection}

Seems a lot to choose between. The 3-4 year olds are all preschool. I don't know any who are actually reading themselves yet, but may be wrong.

No one got any other suggestions or opinions on those on The Book People?

I like the picture books for that age group. The first one had more recognisable titles (room on the broom etc.) but if the kids are quite well read, they may have those already. Perhaps the second set would be better in that case (otherwise, the first).

Great choice for the older kiddies,
I prefer the Usborne tales for the littlies
HTH

So she is nearly 4 then Hula.

I got some Usborne Farm tale sticker books no longer in stock, it seems for my 4YO's going home presents. All subsequent feedback I got was positive but hey, it was from mums
Nice illustrations

Hi Hula,

Your suggestions for older ones is a good one - I've bought these for ds1s party 'bag' and they are 5 year olds.

I wouldn't get the active readers - they aren't a very simple layout and the activities would be too hard I think for 3-4 yr olds.

Picture books are lovely BUT you may find lots of people have these already as they are popular - we have Room on the Broom, Peace at Last, The Gruffalo, The Polar Bear and the Snow Cloud....Might be hard to give someone one they haven't already got.

Don't know enough about the other two and I would go for the Usborne Apple Tree Farm books - they are lovely sweet stories that you can read to those who cannot read yet and you have to find the duck hiding in the picture on each page. There is a line at the top that those ..back later, phone ringing..

LGJ - I think you'll find she is, today, 3 years, 11 months and 4 days old

I have to admit that I did think the same about the set with Room on a Broom - many likely to have them.

Have to admit that for me , so far unless suggestions are otherwise, th Usborne ones are my favourite especially because of their price!

looking for the duck in those Usborne books is the best thing about them