Name: CHEC Rocky Mountain Homeschool Conference
Start: 2025-06-12T00:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-14T23:59:59-05:00
Location: Denver, CO

Tagged: finding living books

This topic has 11 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 13 years, 6 months ago by mjk.

Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

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December 5, 2011 at 1:25 am
mjk
Member
Hi. I am just starting to gather up living books for my two kids. They are 6 and 3. I need to buy them on a tight budget and wondered if anyone has tips. We do use the library but I want to buy them so we have them to cherish as they grow up. I tried looking on Amazon for used books but each book used would have shipping to pay and that seems like it would be expensive.
Anyone that can help me out I’d really appreciate it! 🙂
Thanks
December 5, 2011 at 1:27 am
Monica
Participant
When I am looking for a particular book used, I generally go to http://www.betterworldbooks.com first – before Amazon – because I can often get them for less than $4 (which is the minimum price on Amazon because of the shipping).
Hope that helps you some!
December 5, 2011 at 1:34 am
Sara B.
Participant
Also garage sales, thrift stores, Half Price Books (especially their clearance book sales – ours was at our State Fair in Sept, I think, this year). Abebooks.com is another I go to. Rarely do I find something cheaper on Barnes&Noble.com, but it is worth checking – I occasionally do find something just a little bit cheaper. Sometimes homeschoolclassifieds.com has a living book or 2, as well.
I also gave a booklist to my mom, who is a bookaholic like me.
December 5, 2011 at 2:04 am
Doug Smith
Keymaster
We always check out local library book sales. You can sign up to receive notifications for sales in your area at http://www.booksalefinder.com/
December 5, 2011 at 2:26 am
missceegee
Participant
Many times I find used books for pennies on Amazon used. Even with $3.99 shipping, that’s a bargain. Other spots to check – paperback swap, abe books, ebay, thrift stores, library sales.
HTH,
Christie
December 5, 2011 at 3:20 am
amandajhilburn
Participant
We have several Goodwill stores in our area and I can usually find some good books in there.
December 5, 2011 at 1:05 pm
RobinP
Participant
Anywhere and everywhere. Yard sales (although that’s usually a waste of time anymore.) Flea markets, consignment stores, thrift stores, library sales. Online I check addall.com. It brings up the same book offered by various places like those mentioned above listed by price. There are also several homeschool moms who have book selling businesses and I often buy from them by boxes full, especially when they’ve been to a really good book sale.
December 5, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Bookworm
Participant
http://www.paperbackswap.com  works for us. Sometimes you have to wait a bit for a book, but we’ve gotten hundreds of books from there. My average price per book there, taking into account what it costs me to send a book (that’s the cheapest way to get credits) is about $2.75.
December 5, 2011 at 2:48 pm
sheraz
Participant
Don’t forget antique malls – esp. the kind with mutliple vendors. I just found some great living books and literature like the Five Peppers and How They Grew, Robin Hood, Rose In Bloom, White Fang and others for 99 cents each.
December 5, 2011 at 3:44 pm
RobinP
Participant
My friend, Emily, (who did the Picture Study Portfolios and owner of a library like mine) just posted her monthly book list on her site. She has LOTS this time. This is the way they raise funds for the library.
http://www.livingbookslibrary.com/p/book-sale_07.html
December 6, 2011 at 1:39 am
lauraz76
Participant
I second (or third) all the antique mall-type places. My Goodwills are useless, personally. But those antique mall/flea market stores, with many many booths/vendors/areas, are pure gold!! I also love http://www.half.com a LOT – I’ve gotten books for 75 cents, and even with a few $ shipping each that’s not bad. Especially when I get multiple books from the same vendor, it reduces the shipping.
Lastly, I don’t know if you’re anywhere near Tennessee, but there’s a used book store there teh size of a football field – McKay, http://www.mckaybooks.com
December 6, 2011 at 1:43 pm
mjk
Member
Thanks eveyone! That is a real big help!