Children love to own their own books, but books can be expensive. Find out what some of the sources are for new and used books at bargain prices.

Difficulty Level: average      Time Required: 1 hour

1. Check out online bookstores for special sales.
2. Always check the bargain books displays in the major bookstores, like Borders and Barnes & Noble. If you take the time to look through the books, you can often find some books you want.
3. Christmas books are usually marked down, then marked down again, during the six weeks after the holiday. Late January is usually a great time to buy Christmas books at the big bookstore chains, earlier at small bookstores.
4. Check out used children's clothing stores. Often, they also carry books.
5. Watch the newspaper for announcements of used book sales at schools. The sales benefit the schools, and you can find some great stuff.
6. Garage sales that advertise children's clothing often also have children's books for sale.
7. Visit used book stores to see their stock. At some of them, you can get credit towards "new" used books when you trade in some of your unwanted used books.
8. Many picture books come in paperback editions that are much cheaper than the hardbound version. However, only buy the paperback if you don't plan to hand the book down to your grandchildren.
9. Some churches, daycare centers, and preschools have book exchanges. You might want to start one. It can be as informal as a labeled box, with a "Children's Books, Take one, leave one" or as formal as a book fair.
10. Discount stores and clubs can also be excellent sources of bargain books as can thrift shops.
11. Some public libraries either operate used bookstores or have annual sales of used books they have collected from their supporters.
    

1. You don't have to be at a garage sale at 8 a.m. on the first day to get good books.
2. The best source I ever found for used Golden Books was a children's used, name brand clothing store
   

Related Features:

• Bookstores
• Libraries