Encouraging your Child to Read without Breaking the Piggy Bank

Reading is an important skill and the earlier a child develops a love for books, the more time they will spend away from the television and video games. With so many parents feeling the financial pressures of maintaining a home and paying for the basics of food and clothing, books may not be at the top of the list of important purchases. Sadly, many impoverished children in the United States do not own a single book and many do not go to a public library where children can "borrow' books.
Finding cheap books in your neighborhood

Families have many options to save money when purchasing a book collection that their children can pass on to future generations. Most major booksellers like Books-A-Million and Waldenbooks have discount book bins to help you find books very cheaply. You may not find the latest "Harry Potter" but you will find some great, colorful reads. If you purchase a lot of books, many of these bookstores have programs where if you buy a lot of books you can get one free.

Discount book retailers like Wal-Mart and Kmart also sell major titles at good prices. You can find some book titles featuring major characters like "Thomas the Tank Engine" and "Winnie the Pooh" in small paperbacks for less than $5. Who can forget the "Little Golden Books" we read as a child? These books are a staple of discount book retailers. Many of these books are now collectibles and worth more than the $2.99 or less that parents paid when they bought them.

Many people want to get rid of their old books and will sell them at garage sales. You can check your local paper for sales in your neighborhood. You can also find good deals at used books stores or thrift stores. Many collectible and valuable old books have been found at yard sales or thrift stores.

Most schools have book fairs. While most of the books are not discounted and some can be pricey, usually a portion of the sales are donated to the school. This makes it a good value despite the high costs.

Finding books online
The Internet has opened up a wealth of resources to parents. Many companies offer great deals to parents. Some of these companies offer low cost or free shipping to parents. Like anything, you should be wary of deals that seem "too good to be true." Some reputable companies have some great offers.

One company, Usborne Books, (http://www.ubah.com/), not only offers parents discounts on books but also offers moms and dads a chance to earn an extra income by selling the books. The company is well established. The company also donates books for charity events and has a free book programs. The website has more details.

Another company, Wilbooks (http://www.wilbooks.com/), has a free book program for students in kindergarten through second grade. The company offers a 15 percent discount on select books and products.

If you are looking for a variety of books, including craft and educational, you can find them at http://www.teacherwide.com/. The site has many specials, including some for as low as 99 cents. Parents and teachers can participate in the bonus points rewards program. The points can be cashed in for great prizes such as DVDs and other books.

For a list of other children's books and retailers, about.com is a great resource. You can find a listing along with reviews at http://www.childrensbooks.about.com/. There are also links to offers for discounted books as well as free books.