Thrifty Thursday: Loot from the Local Library Book Sale

       I saw the first flyer for it about a month and a half ago and ever since, I have been looking forward to the local Library Book Sale! I was literally dancing with excitement the night before. I told Richard I'd be going to the sale in the morning and I started singing this little ditty.
       By some miracle, I was able to get all the kiddos into the car and we arrived half an hour before the library even opened. We played at the river bank while we waited. Five minutes before opening, there was a line of about a dozen people waiting to get into the library. I looked around at the cheerful faces and thought to myself, "This is probably the closest I will ever get to Black Friday."

      Thrifting is an art, my friends. It can be a hit-and-miss business, but with experience you learn a few things that increase your chances of success. Keeping your ear to the ground, as they say, gives you a bit of an advantage. Noticing the advertisements posted a month in advance allowed me to clear room in my schedule. That way, I could show up at the beginning of the sale instead sifting through the picked-over piles that would be left by the end of the day.
      Another technique I've learned is what I like to call "stock-and-purge". When you're in second-hand territory, you're often dealing with one-of-a-kind items. If you pass it by, you're not likely to see it again. So if something looks promising, I snatch it up and put it in my cart. Once I've had a chance to scour the area thoroughly and my cart is fully stocked, then I'll find a quieter spot to sit and glean the keepers from the junk. (If I have my children with me - which I usually do - this is the time I break out the fruit snacks. They can snack and look at books while I agonize over which titles to let go.) This time, a couple of my cousins were there shopping with me and we had a great time trading finds.
       Even after purging a good amount from my collection, I still ended up with three tottering piles of books to take home. I've also learned from past experience that it's best to bring cash to these sales, as credit/debit cards are not usually accepted. However, I had a problem this time. I'd been so successful, I had found more books than I had cash to pay with! The volunteer at the checkout said they also accepted checks, but I did not have my checkbook with me. Luckily, she was a kind soul and wanted to encourage me to purchase such a big load. She offered to bag the books up for me and hold them behind the counter until I could drive to the bank for more cash. So I loaded the kids up in the van once more and drove to the nearby credit union. I opted for the drive-up window instead of the ATM so that I could request lollipops for my patient crew! They enjoyed the treat in the car while I took an empty stroller back into the library to cart out our 3 bags bursting with memories to be made!

Elephant & Piggie Early Reader series and the Pigeon books by
genius children's author, Mo Willems.

       I really hit the jackpot with these. In fact, the volunteer who held the books for me mentioned that while I'd been driving to the bank, another woman at the sale had spied these titles in my bag behind the counter and announced she wanted "those books". When the volunteer told her they were spoken for, the woman countered with, "Well, what if she doesn't come back?" Having seen my eagerness, the volunteer assured her, "Oh, she'll be back." Phew! Am I grateful to her!
       If you've got a child who's learning to read and you are bored to tears listening to them labor through the repetitive, monosyllabic readers they are bringing home for their assigned reading, do yourself -and them - a favor, and pick up an Elephant & Piggie book. The words are simple. The phrases often repeat, but the stories are never dull. It was heaven to hear my kids in the next room, all giggling uncontrollably as the older ones read aloud these hilarious stories.

Big Susan by Elizabeth Orton Jones.

        My cousin found this little gem and handed it to me since she already owns a copy. I was thrilled. I'd checked it out around Christmas time last year and fallen in love with it's enchanting story of a dollhouse coming to life. And the pictures! So whimsical and innocent. This copy is in excellent condition. I cannot believe I only paid a dollar for this treasure.

I Spy series by Jean Marzollo and Walter Wick, and
Can You See What I See? books by Walter Wick.

       I've mentioned before what big fans we are of these beautiful books. I sometimes even buy multiple copies to give as gifts. This time I bought a few titles we already owned in order to replace the broken spines and ripped pages. A buck apiece. Just perfect.

The Elements: A Visual Exploration of Every Known Atom in the Universe, by Theodore Gray.

       Again, I have my cousin to thank for this one. She said they had bought a copy at a hefty full price but it had been worth every penny. I feel a guilty rush of pleasure when I think I only had to spend fifty cents on it!! I'm sure this will come in handy in our homeschool.

       Here's a delightful book from a local author. The Boy Who Was Raised by Librarians was written by Carla Morris, recently retired head of Provo Library's children's department. Illustrator Brad Sneed does a fantastic job capturing the comical but realistic feel of the story. I highly recommend it.

       Fancy Nancy books by Jane O'Connor and illustrator Robin Preiss Glasser are lots of fun. They are also in high demand and usually checked out from the library. So nice to have our own! These 4 join a collection of about 7 others we've gathered from previous thrift store trips.

       My kids and I have gotten a kick out of these "Diary of. . ." books by Doreen Cronin and Harry Bliss. There's also a spider one, so that's still on my wishlist!

       If you've never read Bill Peet's work, you're missing out. His stories are more suitable for older children with a bit lengthier attention spans. Sometimes they're told in rhyme, but all make use of rich and varied language. Peet worked for Disney for a time and did illustration work on early films such as Sleeping Beauty and The Sword in the Stone. He's been one of my favorites ever since I was a young child. Still on my wishlist are his books Eli, and No Such Things.

       Cynthia Rylant is arguably my favorite children's author of all time. I was overjoyed to find titles from a few of her Early Reader series: the irresistible pig, Poppleton, Henry and his lovable dog Mudge, and the endearing duo of Mr. Putter and his fine cat Tabby. The talented lady has a lot more where these came from.


       You know how sometimes you'll encounter (or maybe you are) that coupon enthusiast at the grocery store? The one with an entire cart full of Honey Bunches of Oats because it was the sale item that week? Well, in some cases, you can also do this with second-hand items. At a library sale there's often multiple copies of the same book available. And if you're lucky, it just happens to be one that you adore. I'll purchase numerous copies for several reasons. First, if it's a title I absolutely love, I like the security of having one copy in safe-keeping while there's another that the kids can handle and possibly mutilate. I try to teach my children the proper respect for books, but there are some that I'm just not willing to take chances with!
       Secondly, treasured titles can be locked away as keepsakes. I've done this with several copies of "The Real Mother Goose", a collection I grew up with. I currently own several copies besides the one on our shelf. These are packed away in the cedar chest to serve as gifts for future grandchildren!
       Another plus to owning multiple copies is that I'm slowly but surely fulfilling one of my dreams. When I read a good book, I always want to share it with others. Yet, if it's a favorite, or perhaps a volume with sentimental value attached to it, I'm very hesitant to loan it out. By purchasing more than one copy, my dilemma is solved! I'm building my own personal library that others can benefit from as well.
       Lastly, I like to snag extra copies so I can tear out the pages of one to use for craft projects. But that's material for another blog post!
 
       I'm so glad for my patient kids and my supportive husband who shares my joy at finding cheap books. All in all, I spent $58 on over 55 books.
       *contented sigh*
       I can die happy now.


       But I hear there's a book sale in the next town over scheduled for September. Better stick around 'til then!