Can you sell childrens books that are damaged?
Yes. Damaged stock has its own buyers: people who repair and restore, people who want the material rather than the object, and people who want a cheaper one and do not mind a flaw. Nobody should be surprised when it arrives.
The damage buyers look for on childrens books
These are the flaws that move childrens books down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:
- Crayon marks, tears and missing pages
- Chewed board book corners
- Damp staining and mould
- Incomplete series with gaps
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £1 to £5. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £0 to £3. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.
Working out what you actually have
Establish the flaw properly rather than guessing at it:
- Sort by reading age and photograph the bundle
- Check every book for drawing and torn pages
- Identify any first editions separately
Photographing the flaw
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- 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
What to state in the listing
Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged childrens books want these confirmed:
- 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
Age range, series and quantity: “15 Julia Donaldson Picture Books, Age 2-5” or “[Series] Complete Set, 10 Books, Age 7-9”. Age range and named authors are what parents search. Board books, picture books and chapter books are distinct markets, so say which.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
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.
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where it is cheap and visibly well done — a clumsy repair costs more than the flaw it hides. What lifts the price:
- Bundles grouped by reading age
- First editions of enduring titles
- Illustrated classics in good condition
- Complete series sold together
If the work would cost more than the gap between £3 and what sound ones fetch, sell them as they are damaged and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
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.
Getting it to the buyer
Heavy in bulk. Weigh before pricing and consider local collection for a large box, since postage can easily exceed what the books are worth.
WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.
Ready to list them? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full childrens books selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell damaged childrens books?
Yes. Damaged childrens books typically are worth £0 to £3 against £2 to £12 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Crayon marks, tears and missing pages
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is bundles grouped by reading age — a repair that draws attention to the flaw can leave you worse off.
How should I describe the damage?
Precisely, with a photograph of the flaw itself. 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. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.
See also: what childrens books are worth by condition · how to sell childrens books · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.