Building a Baby Library on a Budget

I love to read and I have for as long as I can remember.  I can remember longing to be able to read and was so excited when I finally learned.  I want to pass this passion on to Munchkin.  To help with that, The Man and I have done our best to build her library and read with her.  I think it’s working as she currently loves to pull her books off the shelf and sit down and look at them.  Then she’ll bring them to us to read to her.  Books can be expensive, especially when you know they are going to take a beating in the hands of a toddler.  Here are some ways I built Munchkin’s library without spending a fortune:

1.  Register for books

As we was making our baby registry, we made sure to add books to it.  We put several of the classics on it, such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Goodnight Moon, and several Dr. Suess books.  Target and Babies R Us both have decent book selections as does Amazon.  This let people know that we wanted books and helped us not to get duplicates.

2. Book Baby Shower

My cousin, who threw my shower, knows of my love for books.  For the baby shower, she asked my guests to bring a favorite children’s book instead of a card.  It was a great way to get Munchkin’s library started.  Many of my friend included a small note in the front, making the book even more special.  It was nice to get a range of books, from fabric ones to Shel Silverstein. 

3.  Discount Stores

I’ve found some great books for less at stores like TJ Maxx, Marshall’s and Ross.  They don’t always have a huge selection but if you hit it right you can find some good books.  Another place to check out is Kohl’s.  The Kohl’s Cares books are $5 and they are hardcover.  They change a few times a year and in the past there have been some great options.  Sometimes you can even get a plush of the main character in the books.

4. Goodwill

I stumbled onto this one.  People often give books to Goodwill.  I’ve found some in excellent and like new condition for 79 cents a piece.  I know some people will be freaked out cause they can’t clean it, but I did wipe down the covers and the inside pages (if they could handle it.)  For 79 cents a piece, this is a great way to add books to your library!

5. Yard Sales

I’ve gotten some great finds at yard sales, like hard cover Nancy Drew books (the ones I read as a kid!), Ramona and several other series for when she’s a little older.  I’ve also found board books and pop up books for her to read now.  At a church yard sale I picked up six Clifford books for a buck.  They are showing a little wear but if I bought them new they’d be looking like the ones I bought in no time.  I saved her the trouble of breaking them in!  They have all their pages and no rips or coloring in them. I think I got a great deal.  At a different yard sale I found a Nursery Rhyme book for 50 cents; I saw the same book (pictured below) in Toys R Us for eight dollars.  I’ll take the cheaper one, thank you very much! 

The only thing with this point is that you need to be patient.  You might not find books right away.  You have to be willing to keep looking.  Your perseverance will eventually pay off.

6. From Friends

I’m blessed to have a group of friends at church who love to pass clothes, toys and books on when they no longer need them (it also helps that most of my friends have kids older than Munchkin!)  I’ve been able to add several books to Munchkin’s library this way.  Most of them are well loved (one or two have been missing the binding) but since they were free I’m not complaining. 

Do you have any suggestions for building a library for a baby on a budget?

 

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