I LOVE incorporating books in therapy, but there is one big hurdle: finding the books! The first place I often look is Amazon. I have Amazon Prime, so it’s great when I need books in a hurry. But is there a better way? Here are six of my favorite ways to find books (THREE are free!).

1. Amazon

Yeah, don’t roll your eyes just yet! Did you know that you can find used books on Amazon? They’re often priced at 1 cent. You still have to pay $3.99 for shipping, but–if it’s a more expensive hardcover–it might be worth it. Half.com is another option for used books.

2. Used Bookstores

Goodwill is at the top of my list. It can often be hit or miss, but I have found so many books for less than a dollar. It’s worth spending some quality time sifting through the books to see if you find your treasure. AbeBooks is my favorite online store for books! You can get some really good buys!

3. Scholastic

Remember book orders when you were a kid? The good old days!

Well, book orders are even more exciting now. If you work in a school, then you can sign up for the Scholastic Reading Club. They offer really nice discounts on books. A few months ago, I was able to purchase a bundle of 25 books for $25!

They also having amazing warehouse sales. If you sign up, then they’ll email you information about upcoming sales. Great way to check out tons of books without breaking the bank!

SLP hack for free books? If you talk to your teacher friends, then you might be able to get some free books. Teachers save up tons of points from their class’s book orders (which you can redeem for free books and other teacher supplies). Some teachers are kind enough to share those points with SLPs like us. The PTSO at my school earns a lot of points from the book fair, and they’ve offered to purchase books, as well.

4. YouTube

Yup. We’re still talking about books. There are some channels that have videos of people reading children’s books. This might be helpful for therapy in a pinch.

5. Epic

Epic is an AMAZING app, and it’s FREE for educators. Epic has tons of e-books (and audio books) to access instantly from your computer or tablet (Apple and Android). It allows you to create profiles for you students so that they can get personalized book recommendations and rewards for reading. Pretty awesome!

6. Library

There’s a good chance your school or local library has a lot of the books you’re looking for. The library is also a great place to search for books, and the librarians are often helpful (and know what books kids are loving)!

If you have a library card, then you can also find books ONLINE! Another great option if you’re trying to find a book in a pinch.

So there you have it! Six ways to find books on a budget. What is your “go-to” for finding books on a budget?

P.S. If you’re looking for some inspiration, check out a massive list of books by theme HERE!

marisha-mets-about-mobile

Hi there! I'm Marisha. I am a school-based SLP who is all about working smarter, not harder. I created the SLP Now Membership and love sharing tips and tricks to help you save time so you can focus on what matters most--your students AND yourself.

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  1. Thanks for the tips, Marisha. I’m going to check out the Scholastic Book Club this week! For SLPs trying to build libraries, a couple of other second-hand venues that frequently have kid books for sale in bundles are eBay and a Facebook group called SLP Buy/Sell/Trade. They are certainly hit or miss, much like regular second-hand stores, but worth checking out, in my opinion.

  2. I agree! I love the library (school and county), Scholastic, and thrift stores. Thanks for the youtube suggestion. Your blog always gives me great ideas!!

  3. These are such great ideas that I’ve never thought about! I love using books too so these are so awesome. Thank you!

  4. Thank you so much! I read this post earlier this year and just saw it again. I am completing my CF year and trying to spend my (little) money as wisely as possible. After buying a few staple books, I haven’t spent a penny on books–using the school library and EPIC has been a life saver.

  5. Storyline Online has a GREAT Youtube channel where celebrities read books and the illustrations are animated just enough that it really ‘comes to life’ 😉 I love Arnie the Doughnut and Clark the Shark! Definitely check them out!

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