Tuesday Afternoon Thrift Shop Haul

The only thing I love more than shopping for books is enjoying them with the kids. I started collecting children's books while I was pregnant with Mr. B and we currently have a MASSIVE collection. I rarely purchase books new so almost the entire collection has been purchased from thrift stores during the last 3.5 years.

Today I stumbled on an excellent haul. Once a month I set off on my "Book Hunt". During this hunt I drive to distant book thrift stores to look for books for our collection. Today was not a Hunt day. There is a great little thrift store next to our grocery store and I can't help but take a peek every time I go. Their book prices are excellent. Children's books are priced $0.50 for a hardcover and $0.25 for a paperback. Unfortunately, most of the time I leave empty handed. Today it looks like the store had a great drop off donation. The entire children's section was full and and the kids books spilled over to fill two adult shelves. There was also a full box labeled "free books" outside the store. Baby G whined the entire time.

Here it is in all its glory! I got a Berenstain Bears Book for my collection, some great history books (including George Washington and the General's Dog which I've been wanting for a very long time), Stellalnua (which Mr. B ripped to shreds when he was 18 months old), some great art books which are on my special list, etc. In hindsight I do have a few regrets. Mr. McMouse by Leo Lionni is not very well rated on Amazon and the history books are for a much older audience than I had hoped. Overall I do have some buyers remorse. It's hard to shop with Baby G.

I also took a look in the free books box and got an interesting collection:

These are really cute and OLD mini dictionaries that the kids may or may not enjoy when they are older. Mr. B is not very interested in dictionaries but I had to have these. 

Finally, despite express orders from Mr. Husband I did grab a few toys for Mr. B because, you know, they're educational. Mr. B is obsessed with puzzles and I've been looking for 48 piece Melissa and Doug puzzle with a board backing (since he's mastered most of our small ones). This one was $2 and in excellent condition. The Phonics toy is a gamble ($5). I usually don't buy electronic toys because I got sucked into the Montessori philosophy before I had Mr. B and they are extremely annoying. Right now Mr. B is obsessed with Phonics so this might help him figure out his letter sounds and lower case letters. 

 

I plan to slowly introduce these books and items into our curriculum and will review them once I and Mr. B get a good sense of them.