How To Get Children’s Books on a Budget
Here are 5 budget-friendly ways to build your child’s library while fostering a love for reading!
I’ve always been obsessed with books, so when I became a mom it was important to me to foster the same love of reading in my kids. Therefore, it was no surprise that buying a children’s book was my first baby purchase!
Over the years, we have been able to create an amazing library for our girls to enjoy. It brings me such joy to watch my girls enjoy reading and develop the same love of books as me. Let’s face it; Children’s books can be expensive and starting your baby’s library can be an overwhelming task if you’re starting from scratch.
In this post, I’m sharing five budget-friendly tips on how I get children’s books on a budget, and how you can do it too!
1. Gifts
The girls’ library has grown significantly over the years, and that is mainly due to the generosity of our family and friends. No matter the occasion; Birthdays, Christmas, Easter, etc., books are the perfect gift for us! I always make sure to include a variety of books on our wish lists for easy reference.
I hate to think about all the toys that my children have been gifted that never got the playtime they deserved. Or even worse, the ones that are destroyed in 24 hours.
I am the first to admit that this happens far too often in my house. Therefore, whenever I am asked for gift suggestions, I always recommend a new book; Bonus points if it is the gifter’s childhood favorite!
My favorite gifted books for my kids have been hand-me-downs from cherished family members.
If you’re currently expecting, ask for a book instead of cards, and ask the gifter to leave a sweet note for your child.
2. Resale/Second Hand Shops
This is a great way to score gently used books at a steep discount. And in today’s world, you don’t have to leave your home to take advantage of these deals. There are many online retailers you can order from. My favorites are ThriftBooks and Half Price Books, but there are many other options.
The great thing is you can select your preferred condition of the book. I plan to keep the books for a long time, so I purchase them in like-new condition whenever possible.
3. Price Matching
Hand’s down, price matching is one of my favorite ways to buy books and build my kids’ library. It’s no secret that I love a good sale, but even more than a good sale, I love a “sneaky sale”.
What’s a “sneaky sale”? Well, it’s when you were expecting to spend $XX amount, but the price is lower when you check competitors to price match. No matter if it’s $0.50 or $5.00, I’m always excited to save more money.
Most major retailers have some type of price matching policy. Be sure to take some time and become familiar with your favorite stores’ policies. I’ve found Target to have one of the most straightforward policies.
And speaking of Target, did you know that most of the in-store book prices are LOWER on the app? I believe it is because the app keeps Target’s prices competitive to other companies’ prices, i.e. Amazon. And if you are nervous about the price matching procedure, no worries! The process to price match at the register is easy-peasy. All you have to do is show proof of the price to the cashier at checkout and they’ll update it accordingly. I normally screenshot the app while I am shopping and have all of my photos ready to show if needed.
4. Library Sales
It took me years to learn that many local libraries host their very own book sales.
My neighborhood library hosts one twice per year, and it is super popular amongst the community. Many of the children’s books (and others) were $1 or less and were still in great condition. Our new library also has a book store on site that’s open during the week. Prices are much lower than retail but higher than the Book Sale events.
Check out your local library’s event schedule to see when the next book sale may be coming to your area! Word of advice, arrive early!
5. Library
Last, but certainly not least, is the Library. For starters, it is the most budget-friendly option, as it is FREE!
I love to use our library as a way to have a book rotation and keep seasonal, themed books on display for our girls for less. That way. we can have new books every season! For example, my oldest is currently obsessed with all things dinosaurs. The library makes it possible for us to check out many books about dinosaurs without overcrowding our shelves.
Reading to your child is one of the best ways to build a love of reading and develop literacy skills.
However, that does not mean you have to spend a fortune. Check out my list below of some of our favorite Children’s books if you need help getting started. What is your favorite way to build your child’s library?
Recommendations:
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
Not Quite Snow White by Ashley Franklin
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See by Eric Carle
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
The Book With No Pictures by BJ Novak
Dinosaurrumpus! by Tony Mitton
Little Blue Truck by Alice Schertle
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes by James Dean
100 First Words by Roger Priddy
Hair Love by Matthew A. Cherry
If You Give A Mouse A Cookie by Laura Numeroff
The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams
Please, Baby, Please by Spike Lee
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr.
The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
Llama Llama Red Pajama by Anna Dewdney
Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
Elephant and Piggie Series by Mo Willems
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