My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join in for children's book recommendations.

Children's books

How to repair an old children's book

13 replies

TheSkiingGardener · 13/04/2013 09:45

We have a 30 year old copy of a Richard Scarry book and DS now loves it and wants it read all the time. The problem is it is literally falling apart. Is Sellotape the best bet or is there a better way to try and hold it all together?

OP posts:
Report
RosieMBanks · 13/04/2013 13:27

Sellotape will work, but tends to discolour over time...if you google 'repairing books' there are various suggestions for alternatives.
I had a very old and much-loved 'Busy, Busy World' which was falling to bits, and decided that it would be worth buying a new one! Richard Scarry books can go for £££s, but you can sometimes pick them up reasonably cheaply on Ebay/Amazon Marketplace. I thought it was worth buying one great hardback book which has been read over and over again, instead of buying a few picture books!

Report
TheSkiingGardener · 13/04/2013 15:47

Thanks, will have a look. Funnily enough it is a copy of 'Busy, busy world' which needs repairing. They seem to go for a fair bit and I think with the amount of handling any copy would probably fall apart given their age.

OP posts:
Report
SparePants · 13/04/2013 15:53

Don't use Sellotape!!! If pages are ripped you can use Scotch Magic Tape which is (and stays) almost invisible. If pages are actually falling out it's much better to do an amateur rebinding job with Copydex and rubber bands. I'm a librarian and often have to rescue books which have been "repaired" by we'll-meaning parents.

Report
UniqueAndAmazing · 13/04/2013 15:55

no, don't use sellotape.
It will go brown and brittle and fall off and make the pages stained.

You can get special book tape.

If it's just the covers, then buy a roll of bookwrap.

I will get links, hang on.

Report
UniqueAndAmazing · 13/04/2013 15:58

book wrap
available at most book retailers.
(i can also get hold of it)

binding tape this is wholesale, but I bet you can get it in smaller amounts.
I've got a roll at home (but I bought it wholesale too)
is the stuff I've got

Report
UniqueAndAmazing · 13/04/2013 15:59
Report
UniqueAndAmazing · 13/04/2013 15:59

BTW, don't think you can get away with buying a new one to replace it - some of the words have been changed and updated, and the book isn't as big now as it was (much shorter and narrower)

Report
TheSkiingGardener · 14/04/2013 07:02

Right, I won't use Sellotape. It's not ripped at all, the pages are literally just falling out of the binding with age. I'm intrigued by how you use rubber bands to repair that so will have a google. If I use tape, do I just tape the pages to each other or is there something clever I can do?

OP posts:
Report
UniqueAndAmazing · 14/04/2013 13:35

normally just tape the pages together

Report
TheSkiingGardener · 14/04/2013 14:57

Just wondering if there is a way to effectively reglue the binding, pretty lug every page will need taping otherwise.

OP posts:
Report
TheSkiingGardener · 14/04/2013 14:59

I had seen a newer version on eBay but will avoid and waitformone of the originals to come up. I can see why they may have changed it though, some of the national stereotypes probably would be frowned on nowadays.

OP posts:
Report
Startail · 14/04/2013 15:09

Yes PVA or the more flexible copydex down the spine and tightly push the pages against it and hold them there.

Large elastic bands are good. A hard back may need something to fill the step between pages and cover.

Report
DanielNanavati · 10/05/2013 10:49

is it sticked or a paperback?

you can restitch a book.

Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.