How to Get Free Children’s Books (Or Under $1)

It’s amazing how many ways there are to get free children’s books.

Reading is one of the most important things our kids will ever learn! So, I like to keep our home library stocked of all their favorites.

Whether you are looking for the most popular children’s books or classics there is a way to get it either free or really cheap. * Under $1 even!

There are many ways we have found getting books completely free or close to nothing over the years.

Reading is such a great way to build a family bond with your kids and giving them access to books will foster their lifelong love of reading!

Check Out Easy Ways To Get Free and Cheap Children’s Books Below!

1. The Library

Your local library is one of the best places to get free books. If you haven’t been to yours in a while you might be surprised with what they have to offer.

At our local library we can check out up to 30 books at a time for FREE. They have newly released books and classic books for every age.

We can even request books from different libraries in our county and they will send them to our library to pick up!

You can use your library card to access e-books on almost any device. Check them out for free and they are automatically returned with no late fees.

Talk to your local librarian about all they have to offer!

2. EPIC!

Do your kids love their digital devices? Epic is a great app for kids that gives them unlimited access to a large variety of books. Right now you can try the app FREE for 30 days.

A subscription to Epic is $4.99, but it pays for itself. We’ve already read the whole Stink chapter book series and have started on The Chronicles of Narnia.

They also have Disney books, DC Superhero books, books that read aloud to you, and educational videos.

Before you know it you’ve got several books for less than the price of one!

Epic is great for travel with read-to-you books, videos, and no worry about bringing bedtime stories on the road!

If you are using Epic daily it actually comes out to less than $1 for each book!

My toddler loves this app. We read from it at night, especially when we travel and she loves that it can read to her when we are in the car!

3. Amazon Free Time

You don’t need an Amazon Kindle to get Amazon Free Time.

With Amazon Free Time you get access to books, games, and videos for less than $15 per month for 4 children as an Amazon Prime Member.

We really love Amazon Free Time because they have a lot of Disney and Marvel books. They also have a lot of new release picture books and chapter books. We can read on my Iphone or Ipad, which is convenient for traveling too!

3. Yard Sales & Thrift Stores

Check out your local yard sales and estate sales or follow a local yard sale group on Facebook.

People are always selling children’s books dirt cheap. You may even find a box of books for FREE.

4. E-books

If you are have a Kindle, Nook, or other e-reader make sure and look for free e-books. I know that Barnes and Noble and Amazon both put out free children’s e-books regularly.

If you are an Amazon Prime member and a Kindle owner you have access to even more free children’s e-books and discounts.

Going back to the library, many libraries have free e-books now. Ask your local librarian if you can get free children’s library books on your device!

5. Podcasts

There are several podcasts that tell children’s stories. StoryNory and Barefoot Books are both good ones for stories and classic fairy tales for kids.

6. Little Free Library

In your community you probably have a little free library and don’t even know it.

Little Free Libraries are different than a traditional library because they are tiny libraries usually built in front of a house or business.

You can check this little free library map to see if one is near you!

Usually you just take a book with no obligation. Of course if you have a book to exchange then you can help someone else! 

6. Reading Programs

Do some research to see if your local community has any reading programs that offer free books.

Here are some places to look: 

• Library summer reading programs – Often times summer reading programs at the library offer a free book as an incentive.
• School – Sometimes teachers will send home book lists to complete for a free book.
• Community Centers – See if any of your local community centers offer a reading program. 

8. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library 

Dolly Parton has an amazing program for little ones called Imagination Library.

If you sign your child up when they are born they will receive books in the mail from Imagination Library until they start school!

Check to see if you have Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library available in your community!

Bonus- Amazon

As I said above you can get free E-books from Amazon. But, you can also buy children’s books on Amazon too for dirt cheap.

You can find almost any children’s book in good condition for pennies. For example, this Diary of the Wimpy Kid for 1 penny. My son loves this series and it’s a great place to order them on a budget.

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Getting free books for your kids can be easy. Before you know it your little one will have a growing library of their own as they learn and grow into an amazing reader!

Where do you find free/cheap children’s books? What kind of books do your kids love to read? I would love to hear from you in the comments below!

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