If you have ever searched for a copy of a book on the internet, chances are you have come across Project Gutenberg. Established by Michael S. Hart in 1971, Project Gutenberg introduced the concept of freely distributing digital copies of books online. It began with Hart typing out the U.S. Declaration of Independence by hand and grew into a volunteer-driven effort to digitize and archive literature worldwide. With over 70,000 free ebooks to choose from, most of which are in the public domain, this vast collection is a great resource for classic children’s books such as Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne and Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll.
This imprint of Simon & Schuster is the go-to website for YA and teen fiction. Each month, visitors who make an account can read one full-length title for free on the website. For those who love book discussion you might want to check out their Youtube series “Off Book With Simon Teen.” The site also offers fun quizzes like “Which Lynn Painter Book Should You Read Next?” or “How Well Do You Know the Shadowhunter Runes?”. Overall, it is an excellent resource and website.
The local library is still the best place to find free children’s books. Unlike a website, the library offers the joy of holding a physical piece of media. This is especially important for picture books or anything where you want to really see the art up close.
Little Free Libraries began in 2009 when Todd Bol of Hudson, Wisconsin built a small model of a one-room schoolhouse as a tribute to his mother, a former school teacher who loved reading. He filled it with books and mounted it on a post in his front yard, inviting neighbors to take a book or leave a book. The idea caught on quickly, and, today, there are tens of thousands of Little Free Libraries around the world. Check out the Little Free Libraries World Map website to find one near you.
For families who have moved internationally, finding children’s literature in their native country’s language can be challenging. Many children grow up without any connection to their heritage or native language. It is the International Digital Children’s Library’s mission to “build a collection of books that represents outstanding historical and contemporary books from throughout the world.” With over 4,000 titles to choose from in 60 different languages, the ICDL is an excellent resource for exploring and appreciating rich children’s literature from the global community.
BookSpring, a nonprofit located in central Texas, strives to cultivate a lasting love for reading among children and their families. Developed in collaboration with Unite for Literacy, Bookspring offers an expansive digital library in both English and Spanish.
If you have a library card, you can borrow and read ebooks and audiobooks for free on any of your devices through Livebrary. There is a separate section for kids and teens with a massive selection of new and old children’s books. You can even filter whether you want ebooks, audiobooks, or kindle editions. This is definitely one of the most robust online catalogs if you are looking for a recent release.
Wilbooks offers a wide selection of picture books for grades pre-k to 3rd grade. They also have other text-based entertainment like joke books, poetry, guided readings, and brain busters. All you have to do is select your child’s reading level and start reading!
Just like the name suggests, you can find free books for kids and much more on Free Kids Books. To explore the many options, simply filter by publisher, author, or age group. There is also a foreign language tab and a tab for beginner through intermediate ESL readers. Readers have the option to download books as a PDF. You can also check out the Free Kids Books weekly blog for book recommendations and learning strategies!
Kasey Taylor, Pine Reads Review Writer