My kids read a lot, which is wonderful, so I try not to complain about the frequent library trips and frequent library fines. Let me tell you though, the fines add up. Too many books being read in every corner of the house.
I learned early on that buying used books can hold the kids over for a long time, and are probably cheaper than dealing with all the library fines. Our local thrift store has such a great room full of books that we joke about it being our personal bookstore. Our library has a shop full of donated books that often find their way to our house. Why pay $12-16 new when you can pick it up for $1.50 used?
My lovely daughter Drama Girl has been known to pick up her 50 cent favorites when we go on these hunting expeditions, but I never really paid attention to the extent of her collecting. Until now.
She found that her new 7th grade English teacher had almost no books in her classroom library, so Drama Girl decided to donate two boxes from her collection. The first was filled with excellent pre-teen literature. The second?
Goosebumps. If you aren't familiar with these, let me just tell you that they're silly scary stories for kids. The author, R. L. Stine, must just crank them out because there are hundreds and Drama Girl had a lot of them. I had no idea until she started reaching into her cache under the bed, in closets, on shelves, in the garage.
I don't know what the seventh grade English teacher really thought of this donation, but Drama Girl says she was happy.
I'm just happy to have them out of my house. Now there's room for more books.
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Books: Better when passed around
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15 people stopped folding laundry to write:
That is pretty terrific.
I promise you, the teacher was happy.
I buy used books for my classroom library and then I don't have to police them. If I get them back- great. If I don't- no problem.
The more books the better.
I even had a student give me a set of beautiful hard cover (like brand new) books...that sit on my shelves and give them some class.
Great to pass the books along.
We inherited a bunch of books from the Goosebumps series and my son loved them!
This year my kids finally started reading for fun, and the library fines reflect that.
I am helping to arrange a 'book exchange' at my kids school. For every book you bring in to the 'book store' (um multipurpose room) you can take a different one home.
So everyone ends up happy!
We love goosebumps too!
Kiss your little generous book donor for me! (Our she-child was tasked with the same chore yesterday...and felt similar pride upon completion. :) )
Does she have any recommendations for good authors for 7-year-olds?
And more books and more books...
PLEASE share those AG doll fashion pictures we need help!!
Oh how wonderful! You've got some great kids there.
If she likes R.L. Stine, she'll love William Sleator and Christopher Pike (if she hasn't discovered them yet). I actually enjoyed those two much more than Stine.
LOVE BOOKS! We have too many and I can't seem to say no to more! Bravo to Drama Girl for her donation! Pax
I was just thinking I need to go through our books and weed out.
We recently attended a used book sale at our local library, and it was great. Some books for the kids..some for mommy & daddy...
I think used books have more character. Something is added to them - the smell of someone else's home and knowing how many other people have used their imagination and enjoyed the book you're reading. What did they learn? How did they imagine certain characters? And if the book is incredibly old, it gets even more interesting.
That is awesome! We too are a bookish family. The Girl has books hidden everywhere, the car, her backpack, school, under her pillow, you name it, she has one hidden there!
Have you checked out paperbackswap.com? You list your books, people request them, you mail them out (at your own cost) and then you earn credits to request other people's books. We love it! I've saved so much $$ on our book dependency.
That is the coolest thing! I really admire your daughter for her giving spirit and generous nature.
We've started going to the used book store as well. And, our public library has a HUGE bi-annual book sale and we always get there early and make out like bandits! With prices going up (even books have grown so expensive...I never used to blink at spending $200 a pop on books at Barnes and Noble but with grocery prices and heating oil at insane levels, we can't afford that any more!) the way they are, we are even looking out for sales at neighbouring city's libraries as well.
Wonderful! I just donated almost 200 beautiful children's books to my son's 1st grade, all in great condition. The teacher was almost in tears. It's the best place to send the books.
How wonderful that your daughter is sharing her books like that! And even more wonderful that she's such a huge fan of reading!
I read every one of your blog entries. Or at least I thought I did. Every now and then, I find one, like this gem, that I don't recall ever reading. How I manage this, I don't know. Reading your blogs is like having a big sister around to teach me things in life.
I should mention I do have a big sister, but we call her "The Little One" because she's just not big sis material but we love her dearly.
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