Children's Book of the Month Club

Can you say "Shipping and Handling"?

Children's Book of the Month Club widely promotes an 8 books for $2 deal. (At least they do as I'm writing this, in July, 2006.)

Sounds like a bargain, right? Maybe. Until you find out that they'll also be charging you $20.82 in shipping and handling. That breaks down to $5.49 for the first book and $2.19 for each of the next seven.

Ouch! I'm glad I'm not there when people get the bill!

Children's Book of the Month Club goes by other names as well. Little Wonders and Book Planet are parts of the Club aimed at younger kids and older kids respectively.

Here's how it works

You sign up with Children's Book of the Month Club by accepting the 8 book deal.

Now, over the next 2 years, you're required to buy at least 5 books. The prices on these books are not cheap. ("Up to 25% off publishers' prices.")

Of course there's still shipping and handling added on, though CBOMC doesn't say on the website how much that'll be.

(Somewhere between $2.19 and $5.49, I presume. There goes your 25% discount!)

Get ready for the hassle factor

Every three weeks, Children's Book of the Month Club will send you - either electronically or via snail mail, depending on how you sign up - their latest book offerings for your child.

Each offering features an "Editor's Choice." If you don't tell CBOMC that you DON'T want the Editor's Choice, it will be sent to you and you will be charged for it!

That's right. You will have to tell Children's Book of the Month 34 times that you don't want a particular book.

Children's Book of the Month Club - the small print

But how's the selection?

Not bad, compared to other children's book clubs, but pretty darn meager compared to the huge children's book marketplace.

Here's how many books there are to choose from (as of this writing):

• 0-2 years old: 88
• 2-4 years old: 214
• 4-6 years old: 239
• 6-9 years old: 123
• 9-12 years old: 154

That's fewer than a thousand books. I've read that there are over two thousand children's books published each year.

Pretty slim pickings.

Here's what I recommend

Visit my discount children's books for ideas on choosing from a wider range of children's books cheaper.

Or, if what you're really looking for is children's reading material to show up regularly (and affordably) in your mailbox, children's magazines are a much better bet.

Heavy discounts off the cover price and no shipping and handling add-ons.