Best Places to Find $1 Kids Books
As a career educator, English major and mom, you’ll always find me advocating for literacy. And while I love the Internet, I firmly believe that nothing takes the place of real live book. I have so many fond memories of reading books with my mother and I also can remember reading books with my own children. There’s something magical about picture books that can’t be replaced by an electronic tablet. It’s easier than ever to get your hands on some fantastic children’s books. I’m sharing my favorite websites for $1 kids books to help you find the best places to shop for titles to add to your home library.
There are also several options for free books. I’ll share some of those as well. I want to make sure that you have the resources you need to make sure that your children have fun books at their fingertips whenever their heart desires.
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Why do kids need books?
Fancy Nancy, Amelia Bedelia, The Berenstain Bears and Dr. Seuss are names many of us can relate to because of books. We grew up going on imaginary adventures with characters in these stories through the books we read. Few will argue the impact that exposure to books at a young age had on their life. The Children’s Literacy Initiative calls books the pathway to liberation for every human being.
Kids benefit from books in so many ways. Here are some of the many benefits of having access to books as a child:
- Knowledge of other cultures and civilizations
- Increased academic success
- Vocabulary development
- Increased attention
- Exposure to new things
- Learning valuable life lessons
Pro Tip: If you find books with characters that reflect the child’s culture, you may even be promoting self-love. Imagine if the main character overcomes an obstacle or achieves a goal! Your child may now relate to that character and feel empowered to overcome an obstacle in the future.
Where can I find books for children for just $1?
You might be shocked to find out that you can find lots of popular children’s titles and even several best sellers for just $1. Though thrift stores and book swaps great ways to get books, there are also other ways to get children’s books into your home for well below the list price. You can purchase brand new books without the extra cost that you might encounter by going into a traditional bookstore. Here are some of my favorite sites for $1 kids books:
Books by the Bushel
If your little one is into activity books, Books by the Bushel is a great place to catch a great deal. I’ve seen so many colorful paperback books on this site and there’s usually a variety of items available on clearance. This is a great place to grab books for birthday party grab bags, classrooms, gifts, etc.
The Reading Warehouse’s Bargain Bin is a great way to add some fun books to your home library. There are so many fun books available on the site. You’re sure to find one or many that will catch your child’s eye and that will fit your budget!
I used the search bar to find clearance items and found lots of books for just $1 at Half Price Books. In addition to kids books, you can also find chapter books and other books that are appropriate for your child’s reading level.
I struggled with whether or not to put Dollar Tree on the list because we all know that things cost $1.25 there now. But, I figured an extra quarter shouldn’t put them on my naughty list. Plus, I’ve found some really cool children’s and young adult books at Dollar Tree before so I didn’t want you to miss out.
Where can I get children’s books for free?
Several organizations offer free books to children. Often, you only have to provide an email address or a physical address so the books can be mailed to you. Here are some places that offer free books for children:
- Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
- Little Free Library
- ManyBooks
- Unite for Literacy
- PJ Library
Whether you prefer to purchase books at a big box store or if you choose a one-dollar book swap, the important thing is that you have books available for your child. Books can open the door to a world of possibilities.
Prefer to listen to books? Get a free trial of Audible, an all-you-can-listen membership that offers access to thousands of titles, including a vast array of audiobooks, podcasts and originals that span genres, lengths, and formats.
