9 Places To Get Free Books For Kids: Don’t Pay A Dime!
I love finding free stuff. But of all the deals and freebies I’ve found, getting free books for kids has to be one of my favorite finds! Here are 9 incredible places to get free books for you kids.
The Best Places to Get Free Books For Kids
These are all places that you can find free books for your kids that you can actually keep. Honestly, there are a ton of places to get free e-books. I’ll share those places too. But I found some places that give you physical books that you can keep.
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
The first place everyone should check is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. This program is for all kids – no matter the income or any other factors. If they are a child, they can qualify to receive free books.
What is Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library?
From her website:
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, high-quality books to children from birth until they begin school, no matter their family’s income.
How do I get free books from Imagination Library?
This is how it works. Imagination Library depends on program champions from your area that work with businesses and other supporters to bring it to your town or county. Anyone, like you, can become a champion and bring Imagination Library opportunities to your area. Learn how to become a champion.
Sign Up – See if it is in your area
Use the program locator on their website to see if your town already has an Imagination Library available. You never know until you try! All the free books are definitely worth it!
Amazon Freetime
Amazon Freetime is free – with a subscription. So yes, you can have access to thousands of kids’ Kindle books for free – but after you sign up for the service. Also keep in mind these are Kindle books, not physical copies of books.
How much does Freetime cost?
It is only $2.99 per month. This is an incredibly low cost for all you get! Your child can have access to thousands of books for the price of one per month.
Prime members can save even more than this. If you have Amazon Prime, you can buy a one-year pre-paid plan for $49. Non-prime members can purchase a year for $119.
How do you sign up?
Signing up is super simple! Just go to Amazon’s Freetime page and sign up.
Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Log
I don’t know if you can tell, but I am a much bigger fan of physical books than ebooks for my kids. Barnes & Noble is encouraging kids to read this summer by offering free books if they complete a reading log. There is no cost participate. If your kids are already doing a summer reading program at their local library, then they really should keep track of books for Barnes & Noble too! Get double the rewards for the one action.
Sign up for Barnes & Noble Summer Reading online.
Little Free Libraries
Have you seen the “take a book, leave a book” stands online? Maybe you’ve seen them around your town. Little Free Libraries is a fantastic grass-roots program, whose entire goal is to spread the joy of free books to kids.
Find a Little Free Library Near You
Use the map finder tool to see if there is a Little Free Library near you. Keep in mind that this database only lists registered Little Free Libraries. This idea has spread like wildfire and neighborhoods created their own “take a book, leave a book” stations without registering them online.
Reading is Fundamental
Much like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Reading is Fundamental (RIF) has the goal of encouraging literacy by giving away free books to kids. For kids in your area to receive free books from this program, someone (or some organization) needs to lead a local implementation. This means they have to purchase books from the RIF bookstore that they then are in charge of handing out to local children.
There are grants you can apply for to cut down on the upfront cost. Look into bringing RIF Books to kids in your area.
Book Exchanges
There are a few ways to do book exchanges, this is always a wonderful idea because you can exchange books you don’t read for new-to-you books. I love how good this is for the environment!
You can set up a local book swap with your neighbors or PTA or church group.
There are also 4 places to do book exchanges online, via mail. Yes, you find books you want online and offer your books up for swap.
Free Downloadable Books For Kids
As a former teacher, I will always value physical books over ebooks. But if your kids love their tablets, reading is reading! There are so many places online to find free ebooks for kids. Check your local library to see if they have the Libby app or similar for you to rent digital copies of books. You’ll be able to build up a huge downloadable book library for your kids for no cost.
Lola’s Blog Tours
You can also get the newest books before they hit store shelves if you agree to publish reviews. Your reviews help publishers spread the word about their new authors and books and you get to keep the books. Some are hard copies, some are downloadable versions of the books. See the current and open tours that you can join.
Enchanted Book Promotions
Enchanted Book Promotions is another service that sends you free books for kids if you agree to write a review and help promote the book. I love helping authors make a living with their art, and getting free books is an added benefit!
There are so many ways to get free books for kids with little to no effort! Most of the free books available are downloadable, but you can find physical copies too. Pin this post for later so you can come back and keep finding new books for your kids.
Dang, Dolly! She is more and more awesome. I know a bunch of young kids that would qualify.