Bubbles or Books?

OVERHEARD in The Works (mother to child, yesterday): "What do you want a book for? Buy some bubbles instead.”

Now I know many people don’t regard The Works as a proper bookshop, but it does sell books, so why would you take a child there to spend their pocket money and not let them buy a book?

And what kind of mother discourages their child from reading?

Don’t get me wrong, I like bubbles – but they’re no substitute for a good book.
Which would you rather have?