Do you think childrens books should be free, or at least heavily discounted?

i do find some books extremely expensive for kids but there are a lot of other options out there. you can visit a local library for free, you can buy books second hand for dirt cheap, at yard sales, discount stores, or good will stores.

Once your children go to school they have the book club where you can purchase kids books at a great discount. Our school system also has a RIF program where about 3 times a year the kids all go and pick out a free book. We have some really nice childrens books at our local Dollar Store now too. When my kids were not yet in school, I would take them to the library. Check out the books for free and exchange for new ones every few weeks. Our library also has a program where you take your preschoolers and they go in for storytime.

It would be nice if books were cheaper, but the people that write them, illustrate them, and actually make them all have to get paid, too. I only have one child, and he has around 500-600 books. A lot of them are still too old for him, but we got them cheap at yard sales, or through my sister's book order club at school. She teaches kindergarten, so he probably won't be ready for those books until he's at least 4. There are so many places you can go to get books cheap. I rarely buy my son new books, unless they come from a dollar store. He has a set of Dragon Tales board books that came from the $1 Shop and he really likes them. He also has a bunch of books that we got for a quarter or less at yard sales. One great thing about books, is that they last a long time! In fact, my son has some that my mom bought for my brother over 30 years ago! He read them, along with my sisters and I and two of my cousins, and now I read them to my son.

I do think that there should at least be a few books for each age that are very inexpensive. In Tennesse your child gets one free book a year until I think 8 or so. I think books are so important in a childs learning.

I imagine if children's books were free, that the authors of said books would quickly be forced to find a new line of work. There are a number of programs in this country that provide reading materials for developing children though, but i wouldn't expect them to start heavily discount these books in stores. Somebody has to pay for them somewhere, so where would the money come from?

They definetly shouldn't be that expensive. I understand your concern and definetly think it is a problem. We have a lot of childrens' books in our house too and they mainly come from book sales, yard sales, consignment book stores, etc. I rarely by brand new books because they are so expensive and some end up ripped anyway.

it should not be free because its a business, i think the the price should be is the price right now that is available in the market.

Like another person said, you can go to a library, but sometimes that can be hard if you don't have transportation. I find a lot of board books at garage sales or thrift stores. When my son was born, a local charity gave him his first book. They give a book to every newborn. I think that's a great start. I'm not sure why they are so expensive, of course the ones with famous cartoon characters are going to be.

Very good point, 4cuteboys, I do believe the publishing industry capitalizes on parents like ourselves who want to surround there children with books. We have great stores around here called HalfPrice Books. I buy childrens books in good condition whenever I am there and just carry around a grocery bag full in my trunk at all times. There seems to always be opportunities to give those books to good causes. Coffee shops often have book drives for children, I meet other mom's at playdates who are helping to establish children's libraries at their church, etc. I never carry a bag around for longer than a week before finding somewhere to leave it. It is one of the most rewarding volunteer things that I do. We all have our causes. I am a softie for reading and increasing literacy.

Books have indeed become an expensive investment and, like you said, many people can ill afford them. Also, as you stated, these things can really help get a child a head start on their long road in the educational process. Children are actually expected to begin reading by the time they are in kindergarten so if parents cannot begin at home, then what is the option. Of course, libraries are the very best place to get free books, but many libraries are poorly funded and don't have enough books or parents have to travel too far to get them. Good places to find used books are at garage, rummage sales and flea markets. A great place to buy them cheaply online is at half.com. Also, I always passed down my own childrens' books to others.

I agee they should offer discounted children books. We always seem to say we need to improve our education in our country but yet was has truly been done to change that. I know now for the annual tests they make the kids take they do like a week and some schools much longer just preparing for those tests rather than actually teaching real subjects.

I agree totally! As a society, we encourage our children to do well. We want our children to read...but what do we do to help that? At our school, we have a book exchange program. Every 2 weeks, children who participate bring in a book to swap with another child. This of course would not pertain to books that the child would want to keep as it is rotated around several children, and may not get back to the original owner. This program gives children the opportunity to read a variety of books without the cost of actually purchasing each of these books. This seems to work very well, and parents have reponded positively!

Here they run a project to stimulate reading by promoting people to use libraries. The books are free to use for children. Part of the project is that they get one or two books free. I think more often then not its parents not knowing what is suitable for children. Second hand books are often extremely cheap to buy. Books dont need to be new to read.

nothing in life is free, but you can find very discounted books on Ebay and library sales. I recently bought the whole Dr. Suess collection for my son on Ebay for under $100 all in mint condition. Also, check with retiring school teachers - they buy things for thier classroom and do not need them when they retire.

I think it would be great if books were cheaper, I don't understand why they are so expeisive!! But I love to read and I am always getting my kids new books becasue I want them to enjoy reading too!! So my kids have a crazy about of books also, I think schhol and such should give kids more books. When my daughter went to Pre-K last year she was always bringing home new books that the school had given the kids.

Sure, I think it'd be a great idea so that kids are not limited to reading. It would broaden their knowledge at a very young age. I think it's just fair that kid's books are much cheaper than ordinary books for teenagers and adults.

Well, I believe that children should be provided the educational tools that they need. But I don't think that we can force people who makes a living out of publishing and writing children's book to lower their price. I believe that it should be the government's responsibility to reach out and help the children through providing libraries in different places where children can easily access them. That way, they don't have to buy the book but they can still read them.

The books should be discounted only for those students whose parents can't afford it.For students who are toppers,they should be given free books and staionary.This will also make them workhard and achieve better results.

Yes absolutely

i am from india and over here the cost of books and education is so expensive hat it is very difficult for most of the people to provide their children with basic education.Thus i hink the books at primary level should be given for free this will not only increase the knowledge but also the quality of education at the primary level. The books can also be subsidized by the goverment to make up for the loss incured by the book publishers!!!!