As parents, we all would love to raise bookworms who love reading. But this is easily more of an aspiration than a reality. This is because most books are quite expensive. And as such, may turn a lot of parents off from buying books for their kids; even if they may be avid readers.
But there is still hope for those who want to buy books on a budget or even for free, if you’re lucky. Here are some that you can get online and in physical stores within an affordable budget.
BookXcess
BookXcess has some of the cheapest books that money can buy—at either their physical stores or virtual shop. Now, you may be wondering why they’re so cheap. Well, it all goes back to the source.
This bookstore buys overprint books left behind from publishers. These are sold as part of clearance, which goes to bookstores like BookXcess who can buy these remainder books on a dime and then resold locally for half the price.
You can find BookXcess in various malls around the country. They have countless branches from KL to PJ, which includes their one-of-a-kind 24-hour outlet in Tamanrind Square, Cyberjaya. Simply put, if you’re based in the Klang Valley, chances are high there’s likely one just a stone’s throw away from you.
If you live further away from The Central Region, however, fret not as they also have stores in Perak, Penang and Johor. You can find them in Singapore, too!
As some of their outlets may be bigger than others, if you’re looking for specific titles which may not be available at the closest one to you, just browse their online shop for easier access.
Big Bad Wolf Books
The highly-anticipated event that bookworms in the country looks forward to every year, The Big Bad Wolf book sale sells thousands of books for dirt-cheap; some as low as RM3. It is brought to you by none other than the very same people behind BookXcess.
The books at this warehouse sale are mostly overrun titles from BookXcess; hence their affordably low prices. So, if you find BookXcess’s book prices cheap, you’ll likely be in a bookworm’s haven here. You may even not want to leave, and this is easily achievable too as in recent years, the annual main sale (usually held in The Mines) is open 24-7 throughout their entire run.
The Big Bad Wolf Books is apparently known as the World’s Biggest Book Sale; and the Sale is a global reading advocacy initiative that aims to encourage people of all ages to discover the joys of reading and inspire them to pursue their dreams and, importantly, empower them with the knowledge to realise them.
The organisers have recently included an online version for offsite purchases ever since the COVID-19 pandemic. So now you don’t even have to leave the house! Just make your orders on the webpage and the books you want will be delivered straight to your house. Win-win!
Junk Bookstore
The ‘Bundle’ of bookstores, Junk Bookstore features thousands of used, pre-loved or donated books. A single afternoon at this hidden archive is not nearly enough to scour through the endless titles that line the shelves. Established in 1990, this secondhand bookstore is definitely a blast from the past.
If you enjoy shopping for books new and old whilst enjoying some retro, old-timey vibes, drop by at Junk Bookstore. Books start as low as RM1, truly a bargain basement.
The store is open Mondays to Fridays between 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. There is only one branch located at Jalan Tun H. S. Lee, Kuala Lumpur.
BUKU by PJ Preloved House
The brainchild of digital product marketer, Philip Yong, BUKU started as an entrepreneurial experiment that turned into an overnight success. But what makes this quaint, minimalist bookstore so unique is that its 100% self-service; you checkout your own books at your own time.
Visitors are also allowed to take books out and read them at nearby cafes and deposit them back at the shelves once they’re done. Which makes this bookstore an unofficial library as well. All books are secondhand and sold at only two prices RM5 and RM10.
The shop is located at KEDAI KL, Mahsa Avenue and is open every day between 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Bookurve
A virtual bookstore that delivers physical books through online orders, Bookurve is a cheap alternative to physical stores and carries a near unlimited option of books for everyone.
While their new first-hand books may not exactly be cheap, you can look under the Used Books tab to find pre-loved titles that are sold at half the price. However, their search capabilities are rather limited as you can only filter by title or keyword.
But on the plus side, their shipping is 100% free. Do note that even their pre-loved piles can get pretty expensive, however. Lowest prices range between RM17 to RM19. They don’t have a physical store at the moment, but they do accept kerbside pick-ups.
Books and Bobs
Established in 2016, Books and Bobs started out as a passion project that grew into a lucrative enterprise. This independent online store sells both pre-loved and new books.
Their selections are even separated into categories in order of ‘newness’: Brand New, Like New, Very Good, Good, and Acceptable. They carry a wide variety of titles although much smaller than previously mentioned stores; over 20 thousand.
They don’t have a physical store so all purchases need to be made online. Shipping is free for small orders. They have a limited children’s section that carry books for infants and toddlers. Prices start as low as RM4.
Grow Your Child’s Inner Bookworm
Taking your kids to bookstores is always an exciting parent-child bonding time. And if they’re a budding bookworm, they will definitely enjoy perusing the titles.
There is nothing quite like shopping for books, smelling the pages, cracking the spine and perusing the covers. Many of these bookstores also have online stores that make it easier for your child to find their desired titles and make an order without even leaving the house.
No matter your preference between physical stores or online, do check out these bookshops shared above. Who knows what hidden gem awaits you to find on your book hunt. Have fun with your kids, parents!
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