What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects them on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £12 (~$16) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £10 (~$14) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £8 (~$10) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £5 (~$7) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £3 (~$4) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Damp, which spreads to whatever you shelve beside it and cannot be reversed. Then edition — a later printing described loosely as a first.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether childrens books is worth what is being asked:
- Crayon marks, tears and missing pages
- Chewed board book corners
- Damp staining and mould
- Incomplete series with gaps
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Bundles grouped by reading age
- First editions of enduring titles
- Illustrated classics in good condition
- Complete series sold together
Common faults and fakes
Book-club editions and later printings sold as firsts, usually without intent. The copyright page settles it.
Ask for a photograph of the copyright page and the spine, and ask directly whether there is any musty smell. An honest seller will say.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about childrens books, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Check every book and say. A child’s scribble is completely normal and buyers accept it when told; discovering it across a whole bundle is what causes complaints.
Give the range. Parents are buying for a specific child and reading level, which matters far more than the number of books.
On interactive books, check every one. A lift-the-flap book with the flaps torn off is a different product and should be priced as such.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Sort by reading age and photograph the bundle
- Check every book for drawing and torn pages
- Identify any first editions separately
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The whole bundle laid out with covers visible and countable
- Any complete series grouped together
- A representative interior page
- Any scribbling, tear, missing flap or chewed corner
Details to confirm before you commit
- How many books and which titles or series
- The age range they suit
- Format — board, picture or chapter books
- Honest condition, including any drawing, tears or missing parts
Live childrens books listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse books for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Lifts before Christmas and at the start of school terms. Named authors and complete series sell within days; mixed bundles need to be priced attractively.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have childrens books sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell childrens books for what to photograph and how to price, or what childrens books are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used childrens books?
Around £1 to £8 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check childrens books before buying?
Ask for a photograph of the copyright page and the spine, and ask directly whether there is any musty smell. An honest seller will say.
Is buying childrens books second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Damp, which spreads to whatever you shelve beside it and cannot be reversed. Then edition — a later printing described loosely as a first.
See also: all buying guides · childrens books value guide · selling childrens books · Books · condition grades.