We’re passionate readers in our house and I’m very aware of how important reading is for little ones.
In this post, I am going to share some of my tips for finding second hand children’s books.
In a few short weeks, my little boy will be turning two, and I’ve been wracking my brains as to what we can get him for his birthday.
While I want to make his birthday special, I feel as though we are still overrun with new toys from Christmas.
Plus, we have the most wonderful friends and family who I have no doubt will spoil him with some amazing gifts.
After some deliberation, I’ve decided to get him some more books. Even though we already have hundreds of children’s books. Because, you can never too many books, right?
His current favourites are the Acorn Wood series by Julia Donaldson, known for writing The Gruffalo. And we have most of them, but we are missing a couple to complete the set.
When it comes to buying things, I try my hardest to be a ‘second hand first’ household. And while I’ll admit that I’m not always perfect at this, I do try.
A good percentage of our purchases are pre-loved, but I do find some things (clothes, books, toys) easier than others and occasionally I am swayed by convenience and the need to have something ticked off my mental list.
As I said, I’m trying.
Anyway, back to the books. After seeing the books I wanted on a 2 for £7 deal in Asda I was determined to find them second hand for less.
After just around fifteen minutes of searching, I had succeeded.
‘Badger’s Band’ and ‘Moles Spectacles’ we’re on their way to me from a second-hand book seller on eBay. And while I had only saved around £1.50 money-wise, at least I could feel I was making the best eco-friendly choice I could.
Why Buy Second Hand Children’s Books?
There are lots of good reasons to buy second-hand children’s books, from protecting the plant to saving cash.
Cost Effective – Buying second hand childrens books is almost always cheaper than buying new making it an affordable way to establish your own little library.
Sustainability – Purchasing pre-loved books can help prevent them from ending up in landfill.
Unique Finds – Second-hand stores can offer rare or out-of-print books that may no longer be available in regular bookstores.
Toddler Proof – While it’s important to read with very young children, they can sometimes be a bit heavy-handed, even with a board book. Buying second-hand means there’s less worry about expensive new books getting damaged.
Encourages Sharing – By buying second-hand, you’re participating in a cycle of reuse and passing books along to others once your child outgrows them. This fosters a sense of sharing and community.
History – Sometimes, second-hand books have a unique history — notes in the margins, inscriptions, or wear-and-tear that add character to the book and can make reading even more special.
Tips For Buying Second-Hand Children’s Books
1. Always Check The Condition
Before you buy a second-hand book in person, it’s always worth giving it a quick once over to check the condition and ensure there is no significant damage or missing pages.
With books for younger children, I always check that any flaps or removable pieces are still intact and the spine is undamaged.
2. Look Out For Classics
One of the best things about buying second-hand is that you can buy classic children’s books cheaply and start building a collection of books you loved as a child.
You might also find books that are currently out of print.
When my (much younger) brother was little, I wanted to find him a copy of my favourite childhood picture book ‘There’s no such thing as Dragons‘.
It was out of print, our local library didn’t have it and online buying options weren’t quite as many as they are today.
Amazingly though, my mother-in-law had kept a copy from when my husband was small, so although I never got to read it with my brother, I do get to read it with my own children when we visit her house.
3. Check For Special Offers
Many second-hand places run special offers on books. For example, on eBay, many sellers have a discount when buying more than one book.
In my local Cancer Research charity shop, all children’s books a £1 each or 2 for £1.
4. Buy Second Hand On Amazon
Buying second-hand books on Amazon can be a great way to save money and get your hands on older or out-of-print titles.
How to Find Used Books on Amazon
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Search for the Book as usual.
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On the product page, look below the main price. You’ll see links like: “Used from £2.99”.
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Click on that link to see all the available second-hand copies.
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Sort or filter by condition, price, or seller ratings.
5. Don’t Get Duped
Tempted by a pre-loved First Edition?
It’s worth doing some research before you buy.
I often see Harry Potter books, locked away in cases in charity shops listed as being a first edition.
There are two issues with this.
If it was worth anything significant as a first edition, it would be up for auction. Secondly, the print runs on the later Harry Potter books were huge, meaning that later first editions a extremely common and not really worth paying extra money for.
6. Keep A List On Your Phone
If your child has a favourite book series, it’s worth keeping a list on your phone of which books they do (or don’t!) have.
My daughter loves the Rainbow Magic books by Daisy Meadows but there are literally hundreds of them!
For now, the list of the ones she does have is shorter. As a popular series, I often see these books for less than £1 in charity shops ( I once managed to grab around 20 at 10p each!) so it’s great to know I can pick them up without worrying I’m purchasing a duplicate.
7. Don’t Be Put Off By Inscriptions
Some people may find reading an inscription inside a book a little off
Where Are The Best Places To Buy Second hand Children’s Books?
When it comes to buying pre-loved children’s books, there are lots of different places you can try.
- Amazon
- Car Boot Sales
- Charity Shops
- Facebook Market Placeseco
- eBay
- Jumble Sales
- Mum 2 Mum Markets
- World of Books
- Vinted
Typically I find that buying children’s books from charity shops works out the cheapest, especially as there are no postage fees to consider. Plus, you know any money that you are spending is going to a good cause.
Car Boot Sales are also a good bet, as people sell items cheaply as often they don’t want to take anything home with them.
If you’re looking for a specific title, then you’re probably better off trying somewhere that has a large array of sellers such as Amazon or eBay.
Vinted can also be great for books if buying in bundles, just be aware that the shipping fees can sometimes make the price more than the book would cost new.
Do you love buying second-hand books for your children? Do you have any amazing preloved finds? I’d love to hear about them in the comments!