One way to get kids excited about reading? Sign up for one of the awesome book subscription boxes that deliver hand-curated titles to your doorstep each month. The options for book subscriptions for kids have grown exponentially over the last few years and it’s wonderful! Because we all know kids go crazy for any package that’s addressed just to them.
Updated for 2024
Here are some of our favorites, to help you pick exactly the right book subscription box for your kid’s needs and interests, whether that’s finding a theme that gets a reluctant reading reading, seeing a protagonist who looks like them, or a book that comes with a few extra goodies to help them keep their imagination going, even after the book is closed and back on the shelf.
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A book subscription box for kids who need more female protagonists on their shelves
The Little Feminist book box (at very top) is a tremendous hit at my house. And I’m the mom of a boy. I loved the poetic and inspiring Drum Dream Girl the box included, plus the DIY drumsticks and and coloring book that came with it. Each box comes with a similar book and related activity to help kids engage with the story, and you can specify 0-3 years old, 3-7, or 7-9. And while it’s created to empower girls specifically, my toddler son really loved all the titles that were appropriate for him — and not just because of the drumsticks, although that helped.
Related: The best subscription gifts for kids of any age: 40+ ideas
A book subscription box for kids featuring Black heroes
When our contributor Georgette shared the Just Like Me book subscription, she raved about it for good reason — the box includes well-curated, age-appropriate children’s books with African-American characters, at a time that only 22% of children’s books feature characters of color. That makes this a great subscription box for Black children who want to see characters who look like them when they snuggle up for a bedtime story, or frankly, all kids who should be reading about heroes of all kinds of backgrounds, since they each inform different stories. Each box from Just Like Me comes with 2-3 books plus activities, and you can choose from 3 age groups, from 0 to 12.
A book subscription box for kids with very particular taste in books:
If you’re shopping for a little kid who loves trains and planes, a middle grader who loves nature, a tween who’s obsessed with page-turning chapter books, or a kid who can’t get enough of YA dystopian fiction, Gift Lit is definitely worth a look. You select the child’s age, the length of subscription (3-, 6-, or 12-months) — then search by interest to select one book to send, from an impressive collection put together by some really respected industry experts. Kids can even exchange the book if it’s not their thing. Or, you can choose the Build-Your-Own collection, which allows kids to choose their very own book each month. We’d say that GiftLit as a gift feels a lot more personalized and special than some of the other kids book subscription boxes, but the trade-off is receiving fewer books each month.
A book subscription box for kids supporting an indie bookseller
I feel torn about book subscription boxes sometimes because I don’t want to take business away from my local indie bookstore and I often rely on their recommendations for gifts. But The Reading Bug Box is curated by the child’s book lovers and experts at the The Reading Bug, a beloved indie children’s bookstore in California.The selected books — choose between babies, children, or two siblings — are all staff favorites, which is totally the best method for finding new favorites (aside from asking librarians).
Related: A gift for the kid who has everything: A stylish clothing subscription box that gives back.
A book subscription box for little kids who already own the classics:
Of all the book subscription boxes out there, I think Elephant Books really nails the presentation with a beautiful brown paper package tied up with string. Inside, each package features outstanding book curation of the newest board books and hardcover picture books, to help delight kids with brand new titles they haven’t yet seen. Bonus: No risk of getting another copy of Goodnight Moon; they only offer two categories: picture books and board books. So it’s a great birthday gift for young kids, and even a smart shower gift that keeps on giving.
Related: All the best children’s books of 2018 from all the best best-of 2018 lists.
A book subscription box for kids who live in small spaces
If you love the idea of receiving new children’s books each month, but you’re an apartment-dweller, small home family, or Marie Kondo devotee, I recommend you look into a Literati book subscription. It’s best described as a Stitch Fix for children’s books — each month you’ll receive a new assortment of age-appropriate books. Enjoy them all for a week, then only keep the favorites and return the rest. Just be sure you’re the type of person who stays on top of returns; you have a week to read and return the non-keepers before you get charged for them. But it’s a nice way to get to discover lots of new kinds of books for your kid, especially if you can’t make it to the library as frequently as you’d like.
Related: The Ultimate Birthday Gift Guide! The best gifts for kids by age
A book subscription box for kids to encourage creativity and imagination
If your kid is obsessed with dress-up and role play, consider the Little Bookish Wardrobe Book Club subscription box for kids. It includes one new book each month, plus costumes and props to help kids bring the story to life. I think this could be a wonderful gift for kids who need a little extra help getting excited about reading — or for those kids who don’t need any help dressing up and acting out their own “to be continued…” sequel of the books they do love. Little Bookish doesn’t offer different age options, but the books and costumes seem geared toward toddlers and preschoolers, and is no longer as traditionally “girl-centric” as it used to be.
A book subscription box for YA readers who’ve moved on from the little kid books
The Owl Post Book Subscription is another terrific option, offering books for kids from babies on up. But if you need a book subscription gift for a fantasy-loving tween or teen who’s outgrown Harry Potter, has torn through Percy Jackson, and is up for something new, check out the Owl Post Young Adult Imagination Box and Mini Subscriptions. You’ll get three handpicked hardcover YA fantasy books delivered monthly, and a subscription quiz can help customize your boxes. Here’s to gifts that help keep our kids reading at all ages!
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