When my first daughter was born, I only had four children's books. Teaching her to love reading was important to me, but in order to do so, I needed more books. Other than obvious choices like Goodnight Moon and Where the Wild Things Are, I didn't know where to start. What books should I buy? Where could I find affordable books on my crazy-tight budget?
Through a lot of
trial, confusion, and library visits, I figured it out. Now, I have three kids
and a bookshelf bursting with a variety of amazing children's books. Part of
that is due to my book blog, but I'm
no stranger to seeking out and purchasing good books at an affordable price.
This is how I went
from an empty bookshelf to one filled with educational, fun, and adventurous
books for my kids.
A subscription box gives
my kids a fresh dose of reading material each month, for less money than buying
books at a retail store. I use Little Fun
Club because they hand-select books for my kids, eliminating the
time I usually spend on researching and locating titles. Since the retail value
of the books is always more than the cost of the subscription box, I know I'm
getting a good deal. Use code 02RF17 for 20% off your first box.
Scholastic Book Orders
When my oldest
child entered preschool, I ordered books every month from the Scholastic book
order. I let my daughter show me which books she was interested in, then bought
what fit into my budget. Our bookshelf quickly filled with educational, fun,
and interesting books.
Epic Digital Library
I use digital
libraries like Epic to get access to thousands of wonderful titles for a
reasonable monthly fee. With oodles of ebooks, audio books, and read-to-me
books available, my kids never run out of reading material. Plus, the app keeps
track of my kids' reading progress and emails me a weekly update. They offer a
one-month free trial
for new customers.
I browse Amazon's
book selection whenever I have a minute or two to kill. There's no question
it's one of the most popular places to buy books. Visit their "Children's Books" section for age-specific
recommendations or check out their bargain bin to find hundreds of books for $4
or less.
Book Depository
Book Depository
offers free shipping to almost anywhere in the world. I use Book Depository to
send books to my family in Canada and to myself when I really want that UK
edition of my favorite book. If you live outside the US and want to expand your
child’s book collection, Book Depository is the place to go.
Book Outlet
This is one more
place I find great books for little money. From bestsellers to lesser-known
titles, Book Outlet has a wide range of books available for good prices and low
shipping costs.
Public Libraries
Let's not forget
that public libraries are a wonderful resource that are free to use (as long as
you don't rack up any late fees). I borrow books, e-books, music, and movies
for myself and the kids.
Library Book Sales
Speaking of
libraries, remember to hit up their annual sale to score some good deals. If
you go early enough, you can make out like a bandit. This is a great option if
you are trying to find inexpensive books and don’t mind their gently-used
condition.
Thrift stores
Thrift stores are a
good place to pick up some bestselling titles on the cheap. I usually come out
of a thrift store binge with several bestsellers that I've picked up for less
than $1 each.
And there you have
it! These are the methods I use to get my hands on good, affordable books for
my kids.
Do you have any
bargain-hunting tips for bookworms?
DenaMcMurdie is the gal behind the children's book blog, Batch
of Books. She also writes for Brightly and Underlined. You can find
her on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
