Although I recommend all of the libraries in the area as great places to find books to read this summer, I also love the thrill of hunting for good used books. There is a reason for the saying, “One person’s trash is another’s treasure.” This summer I found books for kids and adults at Goodwill, a local library thrift store, and even a church charity shop. I purchased a mini library of paperback early chapter books to share at my elementary school library, a CD of Goosebumps books, and some great vintage kids books to use for everything from crafts to reading in the car (they are already a bit worn so perfect for messy hands).

When I was young my mother would take me to paperback buy, sell and trade shops. We’d bring in bags of paperback books for credit and shop, shop, shop. Alas, the selections were not as great as used bookstores I visit today. But it was interesting to see rows and rows of dogeared paperbacks that shoppers picked through as if each was an exciting possibility. The stores were small and crowded but they were one of the best ways to spend an afternoon (not to mention it was easy to find books that were for grownups only and sneak peeks).

If you don’t want to shop used please donate! It makes a big difference to the community and stores like Half Price Books donate back. Our library has benefited yearly from their book drives. You never know what you’ll find when you shop used books, and that my friends is half the fun!

The Snoopy is a Weekly Reader from 1966, and love the illustrations below. The book cover for Hoppity Skip has a 35¢ price tag.

1971 publication date (in Roman numerals, what a pain to translate!)