So I've got a number of board books that I'll post one day. But I look at them and wonder, are people more lenient when it comes to the condition of them? I mean, little ones are not exactly nice with these things. I'm not looking to post unpostables (hey, I know unposable when I see it!) but exactly what condition are people looking for with these? I mean, I'm not going to teethe on the corner of my copy of Middlesex, but my son might bite his Hippos Go Berzerk.

Am I making any sense?

Speaking for myself (I'm the mother of a 2 year old)  I'm pretty relaxed about the condition of children's books.  I expect a board book to look like a toddler has played with it.  As long as it doesn't have water damage or missing pages or missing flaps or pop ups I'm happy.

I check to make sure the binding is intact, i.e. the board pages are pulling away from the binding or each other.  Also, for stains.  I expect a few dents and creases in a page or two.  I don't expect it to look new or "adult" read.  Kids are hard on things and corners get dented.   Bottom line for me... if the binding is intact and there are no tears or pieces missing from the pages, I consider it postable.  If there is any part of the books that I have taped, I put it on my freebie list and don't post it.

I dont mind a few teeth marks. I do want the binding to be intact and I wouldnt want food stains.

Thanks for the tips! I figured people weren't as picky about these (I know I'm not!), but wondered if others are, too! :)

Now, if I can just keep "Hippos Go Berzerk" in one piece... :)

I've gotten a couple requests for board books that insist it be new, but that's in their conditions or they PM first.  The one book someone asked about I had *is* new and they still didn't want it, so who knows what goes through people's heads LOL!  (I'm guessing she just decided on another title or something.)  I've listed several board books in good but certainly not new condition... but I threw out the ones with obvious chomping on them (like teeth marks or chunks missing).  ;)  For an older child (like my boys who loved board boooks right up to Kindergarten) or a toddler who does NOT put things in his/her mouth (I had one, they do exist LOL) a more worn book would really not be such a big deal.  :)  Can't hurt to post them and see what happens!!

I'm just looking for intact, no food stains, no horrible chew marks, just so they last a little longer with DD...she's terrible with books!  It drives me insane!  LOL

Honestly, all the requests I've gotten for board books want *new* books. <shrug> My kids are kinda past that stage, but I'm pretty lenient on the condition of kids books myself.  If there are stickers or something that are mentioned on the cover, I do expect them or at least some of them to be in there.

I would expect kids books to be a bit more worn, but the rules do state that cover should not be chewed.

Chewing and stains I avoid.  Some wear to corners and minor dents would be okay.

Since I know kids can put books in their mouths, I wouldn't send anything that I wouldn't want my kid putting in her mouth.