[jjice]

First off, great on you.

Second, I love the idea of giving your child access to as many used books as they can handle and the library. Used books are often very cheap in my experience, and the value a child will get out of that book we bought for $3 is extremely worth it. The library is also a great (and better) option, especially if there's one in walking distance.

As someone who is comfortable middle class, I'll do my best to always get my child a used book if they're going to read it. With a quick search on Ebay, you can get each of the Lord of the Rings books for ~$4 each, and that's including shipping. You seriously can't beat books as entertainment for cost and childhood development wins. That said, if the library is across town - we'll take that route.