There is an old idea floating around that anything second-hand must be a little bit lesser. A bit worn, a bit tired, a bit not quite good enough. When it comes to children’s books, we think that idea has it all wrong. A pre loved book is not second best at all. Quite often it is the best book on the shelf, and we would happily argue the point over a cup of tea.
A book that has been loved is a book worth having
A story that has been read again and again has earned its place. The slightly soft corners and the gentle crease along the spine are not flaws, they are proof that a child somewhere could not put it down. That is exactly the kind of book you want for your own little one, because a book children love is a book children come back to. We check every copy carefully before it goes out, so what you take home is gently used and ready for plenty more reading, never falling apart in your hands.
You can browse our books and see for yourself. Most of them look very close to new, and all of them have been chosen because they are good books that deserve another reader.
Great stories never go out of date
A wonderful story does not stop being wonderful because someone read it first. The picture books and adventures that shaped your own childhood are still magic today, and they are still on our shelves waiting for the next generation to find them. Buying them pre loved simply means more families can share in that magic without the brand new price tag standing in the way.
There is something rather lovely, too, about handing your child a book that another child already adored. It has been tried and tested, loved and approved, long before it reaches your home. You can almost feel the goodwill folded into the pages, the sense that this one was a hit and is very likely to be a hit again in your house too.
Good value, good cause
Because every book here costs between five and ten dollars, you can fill a basket without a second thought or a guilty glance at the total. And since we are a charity bookshop, your purchase quietly supports a good cause at the same time, which makes a bargain feel even better. You can learn a little more about the shop and why we do this.
So please do not let the words second-hand put you off. A pre loved book has a story behind it as well as inside it. Come and find one that feels like it was waiting just for you and your little reader.