The most dependable places to buy used children’s books online in the UK are established second-hand specialists such as AwesomeBooks, World of Books and Oxfam’s online shop, followed by the big marketplaces where you buy from individual sellers. The difference is mostly how they describe condition.
This comparison is for parents, grandparents and teachers ordering picture books, early readers and chapter books without seeing them first. We picked sellers on visible trust signals: public reviews, clear condition notes, a returns route and UK delivery. Marketplaces are included for stock the specialists miss.
1. AwesomeBooks
A good fit for families who want cheap used copies of popular children’s titles with free UK delivery, and who like that each purchase triggers a book donation to someone in need. It dispatches within 24 hours and is rated Excellent on Trustpilot, 4.7 out of 5 from more than 33,000 reviews. The caveat: a specific edition may not be in stock, so check the ISBN before ordering, and expect the condition stated on the listing.
2. World of Books
One of the best-known UK used-book specialists. It grades each copy by condition, which helps when you are buying a hardback picture book as a present and want something tidy. The limitation is that you are buying a copy that matches a grade, not a photographed item, so a lower-graded book can be more worn than you might like for a gift.
3. Oxfam Online Shop
Oxfam’s online shop lists donated books from its network, and the money goes to the charity’s work. It is worth browsing for older picture books and boxed sets. Descriptions are written by volunteers and staff, so the level of detail varies from listing to listing. Check the postage before you commit, as it can change the maths on a single cheap paperback.
4. AbeBooks
A marketplace connecting buyers with independent booksellers in the UK and abroad. For children’s books it shines when you want a specific older edition, a hardback or a title that has gone out of print. Each seller sets their own condition notes and postage, and some ship from overseas. Check the seller’s location and rating before ordering.
5. eBay
Useful for sets and series, such as a run of Horrid Henry or a box of Biff, Chip and Kipper readers, that specialists rarely sell together. Buyer protection covers items not as described. The flip side is inconsistency. Photos may be old or generic, so ask the seller about spine creases or pen marks before you bid.
6. Amazon (used listings)
Amazon’s used offers come mainly from third-party sellers, many of them large book recyclers. You will usually find a used copy of almost any current children’s title, sorted by condition category. Delivery speed and packaging depend on the seller rather than Amazon, so a board book listed as good might arrive in a thin envelope with a bent corner.
7. Better World Books
Better World Books sells used and new books and links sales to literacy funding and book donations. It suits buyers who want a charitable angle alongside a wide range of children’s fiction. Check the estimated delivery date on each item, as it varies depending on where the copy is held.
8. Bookbarn International
A large second-hand bookseller based in Somerset, selling online and from its own premises. Its children’s stock includes plenty of older paperbacks and annuals that suit grandparents hunting for books they read as children. If you need a crisp copy for a gift, treat it as a source of reading copies rather than presentation copies.
9. Vinted
Vinted has become a popular place for parents clearing out outgrown books, often sold in small bundles by age. You can message sellers for extra photos. Buyer protection applies when you pay through the app. There is no central quality check, though, so condition depends on the seller’s honesty and eye for detail.
What to check before you trust a seller
- Read recent reviews, not just the headline score, and look for comments about packaging.
- Match the ISBN if you need a particular edition, especially for phonics schemes where levels can change between printings.
- Look out for “ex-library”, “inscription” or “annotated” in condition notes.
- For babies who chew, favour board books listed as like new and wipe them down on arrival.
For most families, the sensible order is a specialist that grades condition and delivers free, then the marketplaces for sets, older editions and anything hard to find. Keep a list of ISBNs for the books your child keeps asking for.