Hardcover or paperback?

[Amanda_Jo]

I'm a bookaholic! I do have a good library nearby, but I'd like to buy some great read alouds to keep on my shelf for the children. (Mr. Popper's Penguins and My Father's Dragon for example) I've always bought hardbacks for myself when possible but I can't figure out what to do about the children's books. I have this dream of having a beautiful library one day with lots of wonderful books to read to my grandchildren and to pass down to my children. Such a silly hang up--Right??

So if I can get over this hardback hang up am I going to regret buying paperback? Is a paperback going to stand up to multiple readings by our family?

[Pretty in Pink]

i too have visions of a wonderful *hardback* library that i can share with my grandchildren one day...*sigh*...it shall be lovely i tell you!

so if i'm purchasing a book that i just adore i always buy it in hardback.

[newbie]

Being a fellow bookaholic, I passed the gene to both my dd's.

The past few yrs. they basically have set up their own library.They both have bookshelves with their favorite reads. They prefer hardback.

They also will not let me borrow them because they say I bend back the pages.


Banned from the library,
Jet

[Sasharowan]

Paperbacks don't stand up as well as hardbacks, but my kids prefer to read paperbacks. They say hardbacks are too heavy and hurt when you fall asleep reading them.

[sabrina]

That is such a tough question. I waffle back & forth. Sometimes I get a good deal on a hardback but I can buy so many more paperbacks! Most of the time I buy used paperbacks and then I can buy even more books. I wish that I could be more help. Personally I would buy all copies of all good books in hardback if I could. I think that makes me a bookaholic too!
My children however actually prefer paperbacks - go figure! Good luck!

[Dinsfamily]

Add me to the "dreaming of a beautiful library" list! I also prefer to buy books in hardback and do whenever I can. I find that the used bookstore is a GREAT resource for that. When buying classics, I always get them in hardback and my family knows that's my preference so they only get me hardbacks for gifts.

However, now that we are planning on buying Sonlight, many of our books will be paperback. To keep them nice, I plan to put clear contact paper over the covers to keep them nice. Our library does that and it seems to work well. Our home library won't have that beautiful leather-bound look, but my children will still have a lot of quality books to choose from.

[Chris in VA]

I bought the Little House books (first 4 so far) in hardback, because I don't want them to fall apart (they are for dd). Generally, tho', we read from the other, paperback set we have. Can you get two sets of everything?:D