Hi helpful mamas :) I was wondering, is there a good source for finding fabric or plastic books that I can buy for my daycare that don't cost more than 8 dollars apiece? I buy board books at the dollar section at Target and I have a couple of toddlers that chew them up, and I don't just mean gnaw a little, but forcefully bite chunks off! So I keep all my books put up now, but I'm really supposed to have the books set out all the time. I once (at a thrift store) found a peek-a-boo Elmo book made of fabric and it was awesome but someone stole it. Even bathtime books would be okay too. I just want to add some books I can always keep out that won't be quickly destroyed.. thanks so much for your help... *peace*!
Hi y'all! Thanks for your helpful suggestions! I do check out my favorite thrift store whenever I go. Thanks to your suggestions I ordered a few of the $4 "Indestructibles" books and spent about $20 (including shipping) for a lot of 9 bath and cloth books on ebay. If these books can stand up to being chewed on (and cleaned!) I will consider it money well spent. Many thanks, and *Peace*!
I LOVED these books for my son, who yes...would attempt to eat books. They stand up to everything.
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=a9_sc_1?rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Ainde...
Look at used book stores or for used copies at bookstores like Hastings.
church rummage sales
garage sales
Good Will store
consignment shops
dollar stores
whenever you're in a dept. store or box store check out the clearance section
Try Marshalls, TJ Maxx and Kohls.
You could probably get some fabric books at craft sales. I get a lot of my books at our local libraries. They all have a section of the library where they sell older books. Most of the time the hard books are $.50 and paper books are $.25. I also got some plastic books at Walmart. Check kid stores bath departments. Often times I see books for the bath tub. They should hold up pretty well.
My local Goodwill sells children's books for 25 cents each, and they always have lots of board books. For a quarter it doesn't matter if the kids wreck them! Our library also sells used books.
If certain toddlers are still chewing things, they are not ready for books no matter how durable they might be.
Anything they put in their mouths are germ magnets so what ever you have out should be washable.
Get a few Wiggly Giggly balls - my son loved his - but the noise might get to you after while.
http://www.amazon.com/ToySmith-Mini-Wiggly-Giggly-Ball/dp...
If you sew or know someone that knows how to sew that would help you out you can buy pre-printed book panels at your fabric store and even Walmart in the fabric section. They're super easy to sew them and they don't cost too much. The plus is you can throw them in the washing machine if they get dirty.
I would check yard sales to start - they are hopping this time of year and you can find durable books as low as 50 cents
Wal Mart and Target and similar stores will have bath books
Ebay is a great source - I googled "bath books" and got a bunch of results. Especially helpful to you would be those books sold in lots.
Fall is coming...there should be mama group regales soon. I pick up quality books at these things for almost no cost, .25 a book.
Yardsales, or
I often advocate for freecycle.org although their policies have gotten stricter and there is always the chance for wackos--it's like craigslist but for free. so you say wanted: toddler board books will pick up in the --instert your city here-- area
Check your thrift stores! You may find inexpensive, sturdy board books that look used, but your toddlers won't care about that if there's good reading still left in them. It doesn't hurt so much when your child chomps on fifty-cent books instead of eight-dollar ones. Ask your mama friends, too - maybe they could pass some down to you.
When my children were little (back in the dinosaur days), there weren't board books, but there were little Golden Book-type books that were inexpensive. One of my daughters thought she was a mouse or something. She would leave little scalloped chew marks all around the edges of the cardboard covers. Now that she has a child of her own, I wish I'd saved one of those covers.
