The Folio Society

One of my sons has requested Folio books from us for a couple of previous birthday presents. Last two, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep and The Man in the High Castle by one of his favourite authors, Philip K Dick. He's grown up by the way. He likes building up collections of both books and vinyl records. So yes having bought the books for him and seen them, they're lovely. He works in the publishing industry and tells me the quality of materials used are excellent. They would make a beautiful keepsake, but they are very expensive. We ordered the books from The Folio Society online.

Depending on the age of the child and what they are interested in, Dorling Kindersley also does beautiful books, highly illustrated and not so expensive.

We have a few FS books, and IME they are not read, with the exception of A Christmas Carol, which Mr D reads every winter. I think that was an incentive gift when I bought something else, but I put in his stocking one Christmas and he loved it. It's small and not as fancy as the others.

We have the complete works of Shakespeare, some fairy tales (Grimm, again the complete works in several volumes) and others I've forgotten. They are all large books with lovely bindings and leather trim, come in cardboard slip cases, and look nice on the shelf; but they are heavy and not something someone would snuggle up with on the sofa for an afternoon of reading - we both use paperbacks for that.

As a keepsake (eg a christening present) something like Peter Pan might be nice, but I wouldn't expect it to be a firm favourite, as most people probably wouldn't let a child rad it themselves.

Someone bought my daughter a set of Beatrix Potter books when she was born. They are more adult than board books, but small and beautifully illustrated, and we read them to her then put them on a shelf she couldn't reach. They weren't in perfect condition when she left home, but she still has them and they are definitely readable - I think a couple of the dust jackets got a bit torn/dog eared, but that was all. Maybe something like that might be better?

They are lovely books. I wouldn’t pay full price until I’d checked out charity shops online though, as they often have them donated, in mint condition. I bought a beautiful copy of I Capture the Castle for £12 a few years ago.

Our independent book shop gets beautiful editions of the classics. If you are near an independent book shop it would be a good place to browse and ask the owners advice.
If I’m buying a special book I like to see it first, especially when the classics can be printed in several formats.

Thank you both very much for answering and providing such useful information and thoughts.
The child hasn’t been born yet, but the mother-to-be has suggested a book for the baby shower. She doesn’t want anything, but knows that people will want to take something.
I don’t want to buy anything too obvious as I don’t want to duplicate it. She is a much loved relative, so something special seems appropriate.
Thinking of The Wind In The Willows, and buying a simple young reader version too?

The Wind in the Willows is a beautiful book for a child. Lovely idea. I always adored Julia Donaldson's books for the very young. Again lovely illustrations and magical stories that draw them in from an early age. As J52 suggested an independent book shop or even Waterstones have a wealth of children's books.

I'm not sure if it was clear - the BP books were not FS. I'm not sure of the publisher, but they were much more mainstream and accessible.

I didn’t know that charity shops sold books on line. Thanks Casdon I’ll have a look.
I looked in Hatchards last week and was very disappointed in their selection, far fewer than Waterstones just along the road, which had one I liked.
I agree about seeing before buying and wish that The Folio Society had a high street shop 😔
Kenneth Grahame lived in their village, and I like that connection… decisions, decisions!

If you Google Wind in the Willows there are lots of editions. Some paraphrased into children’s reading books and some in the original format, which would make lovely keepsakes.

Before I was married (in other words when I had disposable income) I joined the Folio Society. I still have my lovely Brontes and Austens, and a varied selection of other classics. I've bought others second hand but I'm not convinced the quality is quite as good, and some of the illustrations are a bit odd (and I trained as an illustrator!)

Robert Sabuda - Believe is a beautiful pop up book with a beautiful message and is perfect as a baby gift.

NotAGran55

Any views on the quality of their books?
I’m looking for something special, illustrated and as a ‘keeper’ for a child.
Are they worth splurging on, or do you have any other suggestions where I could try please?

When her first great grand child was born , my mother announced that she would only buy ‘keeper’ books and not clothes or toys. As a result all of them built up quite a collection of hard bound books. She wanted the classics and we settled on what Penguin call ‘cloth bound’ (they are hard bound) with lovely bindings. The children really treasure them. I also bought them a Complete Works of Shakespeare each. You can get lovely illustrated editions of Alice and Wind in the Willows.

Where the Wild Things Are (Maurice Sendak) A 1963 first edition - or something else lovely such as

The Very Hungry Caterpillar (Eric Carle): First editions (1969) (but check that it IS 1st) ..