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It was a very hot Saturday yesterday and on the way to the grocery store the iced java craving hit, but disappointment soon set in when we found the local coffee shop closed for updates. Updates? Really?! How to assuage the disappointment? Books, of course! Disappointment quickly turned to joy at the wealth of literary treasures we found at the nearby Salvation Army Store. We are always on the hunt for great books and fantastic deals and the Salvation Army seriously delivered on both. At $0.10 a book you can't get much better, considering several of the books we procured appear to be brand new, some are signed by the author and others are interactive and fully intact (no missing pieces, yay)! We often hear parents complain about the cost of new books when their children look at them once and then toss them aside or of not knowing what to choose at the bookstore. That’s why used book sales are such wonderful ways to grow your home library, not only for your child but for you as well. Used sales allow you to “try” out an author or genre without paying a higher price for something you or your child may not enjoy, though there is something to be said for being among the first to read a newly published book or to grab that long awaited sequel just released (I’m thinking of The Day the Crayons Quit and the sequel The Day the Crayons Came Home. Must haves in this house.)  This latest trip garnered some wonderful finds that are definitely a hit with the three year old. Snagged three Buck Wilder books that are signed by the author, several Sandra Boynton books, first readers, fairy tales, ZOO! A Big Fold-out Counting Book, and a unique Cinderella puzzle book by Ruth Sanderson where the pages are puzzle pieces attached with a ring and when the puzzle is put together, you and your child can use the illustrations to retell the story in your own words.
  Our greatest finds are those books that been discarded because they are considered “old” or are no longer in print. We consider them classics. We love these older books because they often have more sophisticated vocabulary, open a window into history through subject matter and illustrations and just seem sweeter and more subtle. This may not apply to all older books but don’t disregard a book just because it has been published before your child or even you were born. A book that is thought to be old is just old due to its age and is still of value.  When the holiday’s come it’s always nice to reread those favorite books on your shelf, but new ones are always welcome. We found quite a few nice holiday titles.  So with summer in full swing and plenty of time to keep those reading skills sharp, consider all the places where you can locate some fantastic finds:
Happy reading and don’t forget that when you are through, please pass your book to someone new! *Update 7/3/2018: Just two days later and we have snagged even more amazing books after a visit to another Salvation Army Store, Goodwill Store, and a library book sale! 
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Sifting through boxes, browsing table after table, gazing at shelf after shelf...oh the endless joy of a used book sale! So many wonderful books just waiting to be found if you're willing to spend a bit of time searching. Over the last week and a half we have been on several used book sale and bookstore adventures and just look at the marvelous books we found!  Where did we find such a vast array of quality children's books?!
The Book Exchange - in downtown Jackson, MI There is no shortage of books to browse through at this used bookstore. On our latest trip we found: -Book Cooks: 26 Recipes from A-Z Inspired by Favorite Children's Books by Cheryl Apgar -Cinders: A Chicken Cinderella by Jan Brett -Ming Lo Moves the Mountain by Arnold Lobel -Too Many Toys by David Shannon -Fairy Tale Weddings Paper Dolls by Tom Tierney (with all of paper dolls intact) -A Frog in the Bog by Karma Wilson The Book Burrow - in the basement of the Downtown Lansing Library in Lansing, MI The majority of the books available for sale at this location are discarded or withdrawn library books and most are in excellent condition. Their prices are a little higher than most used book sales within libraries, but they had a unique selection. On our trip we found: -The Journey That Saved Curious George: The True Wartime Escape of Margret & H. A. Rey by Louise Borden -Musk Ox Counts by Erin Cabatingan -Jabberwocky by Lewis Carroll, illustrated by Joel Stewart -Let It Fall by Maryann Cocca-Leffler -Hornbooks and Inkwells by Verla Kay -Louisa May's Battle: How the Civil War Led to Little Women by Kathleen Krull -Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco (autographed by the author!) -Helen's Big World: The Life of Helen Keller by Doreen Rappaport -Sally Go Round the Stars: Favourite Rhymes from an Irish Childhood by Sarah Webb & Claire Ransom Book Worm Heaven - on the 2nd floor of the Mason Library in downtown Mason, MI Slip behind the busy circulation desk, around all of the book carts to the staircase leading up to a quaint and cozy used book shop that features prices that cannot be beat! Children's hardcover for $0.50 and paperbacks for $0.25! We picked up: -Mother Goose's Melodies (Facsimile Edition of The Munroe and Francis 'Copyright 1833' Version) -Work: An Occupational ABC by Kellen Hatanaka -Operation Alphabet (Ministry of Letters) by Al MacCuish -Apple by Nikki McClure -Indian Tales: A Barefoot Collection by Shenaaz Nanji & Christopher Corr -Chicken Soup With Rice by Maurice Sendak -The Dead Tree by Alvin Tresselt -The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen Schuler Books & Music - in Okemos, MI Schuler is one of our favorite bookstores because it has new AND used books all in one building! Being a regular bookstore their prices are a little higher than library used book sales, but it is always worth taking a look because you just never know what you might find. Also, take a look through their bargain books, new books at a discounted price. On our trip we got two used books and one bargain priced: -Chocolate: The Consuming Passion by Sandra Boynton -Once Upon a Recipe: Delicious, Healthy Recipes Kids of All Ages by Karen Greene -Roots, Shoots, Buckets & Boots by Sharon Lovejoy Bookstock: Used Book And Media Sale - Laural Park Place in Livonia, MI This is a HUGE used book sale inside of Laurel Park Place mall. Tables are set up all throughout the mall and are covered with books. Under the tables are boxes with even more books that are slowly brought out as the tables are emptied. The sale is a week long and there are usually special days, such as a Teacher Appreciation day. This year we found these great titles: -Bone Button Borscht by Aubrey Davis -This Land is Your Land by Woody Guthrie, illustrations by Kathy Jakobsen -Sunrise, Sunset by Sheldon Harnick and Jerry Bock -Through the Year Book by Holly Hobbie -The Magician by Uri Shulevitz -How Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Chanukah? by Jane Yolen -Someday by Charlotte Zolotow You really never know where you will find the most amazing books! It's worth taking the time to check out any used book sale you come across. Happy browsing and reading! |
AuthorWe are mom Sandra and daughters Amanda and Kate, all with backgrounds in literacy and education, who want to share our philosophy of taking the basics of life; books, simple toys that encourage play, imagination and creativity, and using cooking and baking to teach math and real life skills to raise happy, inquisitive children. Join us in exploring the old and the new and sifting through the myriad of research to consider what is best for our children. Archives
March 2021
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