Providing plenty of diverse, varied books is key to helping kids learn to love reading. From babyhood onwards, right up through the teen years, it’s important to regularly put a selection of age-appropriate, engaging, good books in front of our children.
Browsing bookstores for gorgeous new reads is one way to do that, of course—and it’s also a pleasure that’s worth indulging in and helping our kids learn to enjoy. (You can also support independent bookstores when ordering books online.) But providing a rotating selection of good books to kids year after year (after year!) doesn’t have to cost a fortune.
Supplement new titles with affordable used books and library books to keep your child swimming in learning opportunities and book love on the cheap. Here are five ways to get free or cheap kids’ books, so you can fill your child’s shelves and imagination with wonderful stories.
Used Bookstores, Thrift Shops, & Garage Sales
Used bookstores are lots of fun for finding new reads while also introducing your child to the joys of browsing. If you want specific titles, online marketplaces of used books can be your best bet. I’ve acquired great second-hand reads, including all the titles in countless children’s series, from sites like Thriftbooks or Better World Books.
Those aren’t where you’re going to find the best deals on kids’ books, though. For that, try hitting up your local thrift stores or even multi-family garage sales at preschools, churches, and other family-oriented organizations.
You’ll likely find a variety of kids’ books on sale for pennies. (Although, with the penny discontinued, should I say… for nickels?)
Little Free Libraries
Have you seen these small, house-shaped wooden boxes on posts? People build Little Free Libraries in front of their homes to facilitate neighborhood book-sharing. It’s a place to leave books you’re done with and pick up new reads.
Take your child along to browse little libraries for titles they’d enjoy. Bring along a book or two to donate if possible (books for any age are fine), but don’t worry if you don’t have one to give away at the moment. You don’t need to leave a book every time you take one—or take a book every time you leave one. Just encourage your child to contribute at some point.
The Little Free Library website has an online map of Little Free Libraries, so you can look for options in your neighborhood or near your child’s school or activities.
Neighbors
Families whose kids have gotten older often have abundant children’s books to give away, and even families with kids the same age as yours may have a lot of book turnover, especially once kids are reading chapter books.
If you try asking around nicely, you’re likely to get many offers of all types of hand-me-downs, from almost-new hardcovers to read-half-to-death favorites. You can also suggest setting up book swaps with families that have same-age readers.
The hardest part is just getting in touch with other parents who have books to share, especially those with older kids. If your child’s school or daycare has an email list or online group for parents or alumni parents, try that. You can also post on neighborhood social media or community message groups. Local Buy Nothing or give-away online communities are also great places to request or find kid’s books, especially if you’re open to a variety of titles.
Schools
Ask your child’s school or school district staff or teachers if they know where you can get free kids’ books or cheap books. Many school districts or communities have collections of used books available for free to teachers, families in need, or even the general public. Schools also periodically discard kids’ books.
Some schools also have book corners with free reads that children can help themselves to, while others hold book swaps where families can give away old titles and pick up new ones. If your school doesn’t have one of these programs, consider starting one yourself!
Library Sales
Obviously, public libraries are a fabulous source for loaner books of all kinds, including e-books and audiobooks*—but they can also be a great place to acquire “forever” books to stock your own home library. (At least, “forever” until you pass them along as your child grows and reads their way to new levels and stages!)
Many public libraries regularly hold book sales of titles they’re discarding or donated books they can’t use. Some even have a permanent display of used books for sale. The books are usually very affordable and the proceeds support the library. When in doubt, ask your library if they ever have used children’s books available for sale.
Librarians can also be great sources of all kinds of community information, including where to get new or used children’s books for free or cheap. Local children’s librarians often know about nonprofits or other groups that give out books and can connect families with many other great resources.
Many libraries also give away brand-new children’s books during summer reading and other programs, too.
*P.S. If you don’t know how to check out digital library books from home, look into it. Some common apps that libraries use include Libby and Hoopla, and many libraries use more than one service, so if a title isn’t available in one, you can just check another.
Have fun seeking out great kids’ books and growing your child’s home library, book love, imagination … and future.
