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10 Budget Ways To Grow Your Child's Library



These days our bookshelves are overflowing with beautiful children's books but this has not always been the case. When I was pregnant with Mini Reviewer, Izzie, I started to look for ways I could build up a little collection of books for her but without spending a fortune. Here are my tried and tested ways to grow your child's library on a budget...


Join the library

Ok, so this is an obvious one! We visit our local library most weeks and not only do they have a fantastic selection of children's books including many of the latest titles to borrow, there are also regular story time sessions and occasionally craft activities too. Our library often sells off withdrawn titles so we sometimes pick up a real bargain to add to our bookshelves.

Pick up your Book Trust packs

The Book Trust ensure that all babies in the UK are provided with a BookStart Baby Pack. This usually includes two board books, a rhyme sheet and tips for sharing books with babies. There are also packs for older children. The current Time to Read campaign (18-22 September 2017) ensures that all current Reception aged pupils will receive a free book this Autumn. The Book Trust also organise themed events usually at libraries during National BookStart Week. This year we obtained a copy of the fabulous "Every Bunny Dance" and made these fantastic rabbit ears! More information about the Book Trust can be found here.


Sign up to Toppsta

We have received so many beautiful books through Toppsta, a great website which gives away children's books in exchange for reviews. If you sign up you can then enter the giveaways to review brand new titles. Toppsta will also send you regular emails with book recommendations tailored to your child's age. This is perfect for a little "book-spiration" and just another reason why our reading wishlist is getting rather long!

Buy preloved

I always check out the bookshelves in our local charity shop when I am passing  by and regularly pick up a few longer books to read to Izzie. How could I resist Pippi Longstocking for 50p? You could also try local car boot or NCT sales too.


Host a book swap

Why not host a book swap with family and friends? The lovely Kim who blogs at Bookbairn did just that! You can read more about it here.

Sign up for free Lego Magazines

Children's magazines are often expensive but did you know if you have a child between the ages of 5 and 9, you can sign up here and 5 times a year your child will receive a free Lego Magazine? We have been receiving them for a while now and we have a huge stack of magazines full of building ideas, stories and pictures to colour. The free Lego Magazine subscription is definitely one of the best freebies we have ever received.

Buy a book subscription

Book subscriptions seem to be growing in popularity and are a great way to regularly receive new books at a competitive price. Why not check out the Subscription Service from Books & Pieces here?

Don't forget that World Book Day voucher!

Once a year we celebrate World Book Day and as a reward for pulling together an (ahem) amazing book-themed costume every child receives £1 voucher, which can either be swapped for one of the special World Book Day titles or put towards the cost of any other book so don't forget to use yours!


Ask for books as gifts

Again this is an obvious one, but why not set up an online wishlist and share with families and friends? Or ask for book vouchers? If you are expecting a new baby, you could even have a book-themed baby shower with each guest bringing a childhood favourite.


Be savvy and shop around

We regularly look at The Works and Amazon online to see if there are any book bargains to be had.

The Works often offer some titles at 10 for £10 and Amazon sometimes offers books at 3 for £10. I also love to pop in to Waterstones and they often have a buy two get one half price offer on some children's books. I even picked up these great titles at Pound World:


Good luck and we hope you find some bargains!


Kate and the Mini Reviewers xx

*Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. You can find out more about what this means here.

20 comments:

  1. Nice one Kate. Look out for the Scholastic sale too. They used to hold them every a year in Coventry, worthwhile checking out, but it may have been limited to schools only!!

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    1. Will have to find out if there are any local ones...

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  2. Some good tips here. We used the library a lot and the bookbags, but there are some new ideas here. I like the idea of a book swap.

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    1. Oh yes bookbags are fab! Our children's centre provides those to borrow rather than the library. Thank you for stopping by 😃

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  3. All fantastic ideas, everyone should be able to have books! Thanks for sharing with #readwithme

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    1. With the libraries losing funding, it's going to be even more important to be able to buy budget books 😢

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  4. Some great tips here! I love to use the library, buy second-hand and look out for bargains (the Scholastic leaflets that come home in my daughter's book bag are DANGEROUS - I could get very carried away with them!) but hadn't heard of Toppsta or the free Lego magazines, definitely going to look into those! #KLTR #readwithme

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    1. Thanks Rebecca. We've only had one scholastic leaflet so far but yes the offers were fantastic! I'll certainly look out for them in the future!!

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  5. Some great ideas here! I know I used to use The Book People a lot when the kids were younger as you could often get a complete series of books for less than it would cost to buy two of them at full price in the shops!

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    1. I got some of the packs and used them instead of party bags! Went down a treat!

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  6. Great ideas and I'm already doing most of those. We have a local rep from The Book People leaves a sample selection of books at our office about once every 6 weeks. I always end up buying something #readwithme

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    1. Oh yes we used to have The Book People come into work... very dangerous!!

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  7. Some great ideas here! We're especially big fans of book swaps as we know our books go to good homes and we end up with some great books too. We've just started reading the Ramona Quimby books that I loved as a little girl, we got them from a book swap and my friend's daughter was just as excited to to take home some of our Rainbow Fairies books in return :o)

    #ReadWithMe

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    1. Just got another Rainbow Fairy one at the charity shop today :)

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  8. Great tips. We do most of these things too but I had no idea a out the free lego magazine and we love lego in this house.

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    1. I found out about it when Izzie was really little and there wasn't a minimum age then so it was perfect. The kids love getting them in the post 😃

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  9. What wonderful ways in which to get new books. I've tried a few of these while others are new methods to me. #KLTR

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    1. Thank you Helena - hope you manage to get some new books trying out the extra ideas! x

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  10. These are fab tips. The library is a great idea. I need to take my daughter there more. i also like the world book day voucher tip.

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  11. Some amazing ideas! I have just registered my son for the Lego magazine too so thank you. Thanks for linking up to #KLTR

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