We are big time readers around here.  Well, at least we try to be.  Little began reading when he was two, and while I realize that’s not the norm, I attribute much of that to the fact that from an early age, we exposed him to letters and sounds, and made reading aloud a priority in our home.

Reading with our children, even when they are infants has a ton of benefits.

Reading encourages language skills, improves cognitive development, encourages the use of imagination and creativity, and increases the likelihood of academic success.  Not to mention, the extra snuggles and quality time it affords us when we read together.

And do you want to know the number one way to ensure that you get plenty of reading in with your kids?  The best way to encourage them to love reading on their own?

Have plenty of books for them to read at home.

But, let’s be honest.  Kids’ books can get expensive.  And while we might want to have lots of books at home, it can often seem a little out of reach when you consider that many board books can cost upwards of $10 each.

So, today I want to share some of the top ways that we have (and continue) to build our home library for our boys on a budget.

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How to Build Your Child’s Library on a Budget

There are lots of ways that you can get books into your home for cheap (or free)!  Here are some of the things that have worked for us.

Go to the Library

This is one of our FAVORITE ways to expand our library at home because it’s free and it serves as a great “field trip” to get us out of the house.  We have lots and lots of library books at our house – many of which we’ve checked out multiple times.

Create a special spot on your bookshelf or a designated bin to keep all your library books in one place.  It will be a fun rotating collection of books for your kids.

Be sure to check your local library’s calendar to see if they have story times that you can attend as well.  We love to attend story time here – and I really believe that much of Little’s confidence in reading and love of books has come from spending so much time at the library.

Ask about Library Book Sales

And while you’re at the library, be sure to ask about book sales.  Many libraries have annual or semi-annual book sales that are open to the public to sell used and older library books as they make space for new inventory.  You’ll find books marked WAY down retail store prices.

These sorts of sales usually last a few days with more discounts as the sale continues.

Go early for the best selection.  Go later for the best price.

[This was my first year attending our local library’s book sale and I went on the last day.  The selection was definitely more limited, but I still scored a BOX of books for just $3!]

 

Thrift Stores and Consignment Shops

You can also find children’s books at your local thrift stores and consignment shops.  Many of the books on our kids’ bookshelves are second-hand.  Thrift stores often have great deals on books – sometimes buy one, get one free or buy one get one 50% off.

I always check the book section of children’s consignment shops and sales, too and have found lots of books in really great condition for a fraction of the retail cost.

Check Amazon

Y’all already know how I feel about online shopping.  Way easier than getting both kids loaded and unloaded in the car and through a store.

And shopping online can be a great way to find deals and save some money.  If there are specific books I know I want to get for Little, I’ll watch them on Amazon to wait for them to go on sale.  (Or worst case just to compare the price elsewhere.  And honestly, Amazon often wins.  Especially with the convenience of Prime.)

Free eBooks for Kindle with Amazon Prime

Another great way to save on children’s books is to utilize Amazon First Reads on the Kindle.

PRO TIP:  You can download the  FREE Kindle app on your phone even if you don’t have the specific Kindle tablet – so long as you have Amazon Prime.

First reads allows you to get a new eBook each month for free with your Prime membership.

To be fair, they don’t always include children’s books, but I’ve seen a few in the last several months.

Amazon also has Prime Reading that offers unlimited access to check out and read eBooks on your Kindle app as well.

I don’t LOVE eBooks for really young kids, to be honest because of the fine motor benefit of actually turning pages in a book, but they are REALLY great for road trips or when you’re out.

Your Old Childhood Books

Don’t forget to check out your old childhood library. Not only is it a sweet walk down memory lane, but it’s a great way to help clean out your parents’ house, too.  We have tons of my old books here that the boys enjoy reading.

And I may or may not have gone through a phase of “signing” all of my new books from the author.  Yeah…Hubs still gets a kick out of that whenever we pull an “autographed” book off of the shelf…

The Imagination Library

A new-er to us way to build our boys’ library on a budget is with Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.  I saw another mom post about this on a Facebook group and I immediately checked to see if it was available in our area.

The Imagination Library works with local champions across the US and in part of the UK, Canada, and Australia to provide high-quality, age appropriate books for children from birth to age 5.  Once registered, kids receive a book in the mail (addressed to them) each month!

The cost to you?  $0.  That’s right.  It’s free for families.

I cannot say enough good things about this program.  We look forward to getting our books each month!

To check if the program is available in your area, see here.

Ask for Books

Finally, just ask for books as gifts.  If you have had kids for longer than about 6 months, you know how quickly toys can accumulate.  Toys everywhere.  For your child’s next birthday, or holidays, just ask for books.

One thing we love to do is make lists of library books that were particularly fun or books that are part of a series or feature characters or themes that Little is into and add those on to his “wish lists”.  It’s a great way to build your children’s library and get more books in your home.  It’s also a great way to build excitement about books.

Plus – family and friends will often write sweet notes in books that they give as gifts and we always love to read those with our books.

Check at Home Goods

Or TJ Maxx, Marshall’s, or Ross Dress for Less.  These stores aren’t typically where you might think to look for children’s books, but they almost always have a kids’ section with toys and books.

I love it because they often have some really great options that are cheaper than many other retail stores. (And who doesn’t like to walk through Home Goods, am I right?)

Other Ideas

Of course, what I’ve shared is likely only scratching the surface, but they are the ways that we have been able to build our boys’ libraries so far.

Some other great ideas are:

• Consider a Book subscription box
• Check your local buy-sell-trade groups
• Go to local yard sales and garage sales
• Have a book swap with friends
  • This could be a fun play date with the kids or mom date with just other moms!

PIN IT!

Your Turn!

Now, I want to hear from you.  Where are your favorite places to find budget friendly books for you kids?  I’d love to hear in the comments!