How many books does your elementary child own? How many do you and spouse have?

[Anonymous]

Not many.

We use the library a lot. I usually wait for a book to become available through the library, for kids, if a book is not available, or there is a long wait time, we buy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why is number of books you own so important? We go to the library every week. My child has likely read more books than yours.

Well, studies show that number of books in a kid’s home tracks with better educational outcomes. Reading tons of books from the library doesn’t have the same effect. Look at the Freakonomics stuff on this.

Not pp, but it makes sense no, that homes that can afford to buy books 1) have more money and 2) prioritize reading / education which would also reflect in their other choices.

[Anonymous]

We have at least 1,000+. Buy at used library sales. Keep classics and favs and donate back. You can get box of books of 25 for $10 at books sales or sometimes 10-25 cents. We also get free books from those neighborhood book library stops in our area. We have book shelves we built on own. Each kid has one bookshelf in room for books and trinkets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have at least 1,000+. Buy at used library sales. Keep classics and favs and donate back. You can get box of books of 25 for $10 at books sales or sometimes 10-25 cents. We also get free books from those neighborhood book library stops in our area. We have book shelves we built on own. Each kid has one bookshelf in room for books and trinkets.

We do the same. DH just ordered more bookshelves yesterday for our dining room - turned - library.

But I’ve also had people tell me things like they “don’t do” books in the house, or they are tired of plants because plants in the house are out of style now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My nine year old daughter is a voracious reader and she keeps a record of the books she’s read. Since June she’s read over 80 books, devouring the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. With four children 11 and under I have very little time for reading which is pretty sad.

Please find her better quality books to read.

I was surprised by the choice too, and the way the post was supposed to be a brag. Kids that age should be far beyond that type of book. We don’t even keep books like that in the house.

Ah, yes. A NINE year old shouldn’t read a book for which they are literally the target audience. Only Shakespeare & Milton for your 4th grader.

[Anonymous]

We have a ton of kids books but we read our kindles and use the library for adults.

[Anonymous]

Hundreds, probably over 1000. We have built in bookcases lining a full wall in our family room, another in our living, and in one child’s room. Other child has multiple bookshelves built into the loft bed and two shorter free standing sets. There is barely a free space. I read on my kindle, my husband prefers hard copies and is loathe to get rid of his books. Kids are the same way. I think the elementary age child received no less than 25 books for Christmas all said and done between Santa, two sets of grandparents, siblings gifts, no from aunt/uncle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hundreds, probably over 1000. We have built in bookcases lining a full wall in our family room, another in our living, and in one child’s room. Other child has multiple bookshelves built into the loft bed and two shorter free standing sets. There is barely a free space. I read on my kindle, my husband prefers hard copies and is loathe to get rid of his books. Kids are the same way. I think the elementary age child received no less than 25 books for Christmas all said and done between Santa, two sets of grandparents, siblings gifts, no from aunt/uncle.

How often do you go through and cull? And do you have them divided a certain way between rooms?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hundreds, probably over 1000. We have built in bookcases lining a full wall in our family room, another in our living, and in one child’s room. Other child has multiple bookshelves built into the loft bed and two shorter free standing sets. There is barely a free space. I read on my kindle, my husband prefers hard copies and is loathe to get rid of his books. Kids are the same way. I think the elementary age child received no less than 25 books for Christmas all said and done between Santa, two sets of grandparents, siblings gifts, no from aunt/uncle.

How often do you go through and cull? And do you have them divided a certain way between rooms?

I leave my husband’s alone, he reads 95% nonfiction and often goes back to them, trades with his father, then they will discuss, etc. The kids we purge once a year. I’ve slowly winnowed the picture books down, they used to take up 4 full shelves and I have them down to one now. I’ll do that this weekend since we took down the Christmas decorations last weekend and I can get to the shelves fully again.

This kids are organized by level. So all remaining picture books are on one shelf. The books my son is currently reading or intends to read shortly in the family room are on other shelves. Ones he wants to keep but isn’t reading at this moment are in his room. Another set of shelves is books passed down from our older child we think the younger will eventually want to read. Similar set up for our older child, minus the shelves of passed down books.

My husband’s are organized by topic and chronologically. So all the American Revolution are together, then if the next event is Civil war (making that up for simplicity), those come next on the shelves.

I also have a couple shelves, but not nearly as many. Mine have mostly books given to me by family members who either inscribed them or had them signed for me by the author, so I don’t want to part with them.

[Anonymous]

Does no one use a kindle?

[Anonymous]

Disclaimer: I'm a librarian.

We have 5K books in the house and also use the library extensively for regular books and ebooks. I was raised in a home full of books (teacher parents) and this number feels right for us. I actively maintain our collection so it meets our family's needs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Disclaimer: I'm a librarian.

We have 5K books in the house and also use the library extensively for regular books and ebooks. I was raised in a home full of books (teacher parents) and this number feels right for us. I actively maintain our collection so it meets our family's needs.

Wow. Where and how do you store them and sort them? Do you use a scanner and app to organize them?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does no one use a kindle?

I use the library.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does no one use a kindle?

My husband does, but only because his vision impairment became so bad that he could no longer read books without his contacts. He likes to read in bed and being able to adjust the font size was a big selling point for him.

I still have physical books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does no one use a kindle?

Many people, not all, find it easier to read paper than a tablet. People who need large print often prefer a tablet that permits larger print.