11 Best Baby Book Subscriptions for Expanding Little Minds
The benefits of reading to baby are bountiful. Reading is a wonderful way to pass the time on rainy days, relax baby before bedtime or just as a fun educational activity. In fact, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), reading aloud to your child from infancy builds language skills and strengthens the bond between baby and parent.
Stocking your shelves with a selection of fun, educational and diverse kids’ books means that parents and baby will never grow tired of storytime. Of course you can fill your library with the classic childrens’ books you loved as a little one. But if you’re looking for the latest, trendiest kids’ books, why not sign up for a baby book subscription? That way, you’ll receive new books—expertly curated for your child’s age—to read with your little one on a regular basis. The best part? Many subscriptions offer kids’ books at discounted prices, so adding to your collection won’t break the bank.
Read on to discover the best baby book clubs on the market right now. Shopping for a toddler or an older child? Not to worry—many of the subscription boxes on our list cater to toddlers and big kids too.
First up on our list of the best baby book subscriptions is the Amazon Prime book box for kids. This Best of Baby award-winning subscription will introduce your little one to a mix of cherished classics and hidden gems. It’s suitable for babies aged 0 to 2 years old, and each box contains four top-rated board books that have been specially selected by Amazon book editors. And you can customize the subscription to suit your needs. Simply sign-up and select your preferred cadence (choose from a book delivery every one, two or three months), then review and swap the books in your next box before they’re shipped. Plus, the Amazon Prime book box offers a saving of 40 percent off list price so it’s super-affordable to boot.
Buy it: $20 per box, Amazon.com
Next up is a truly brilliant baby book subscription box with a charitable twist. Lillypost has a passion for childhood literacy, so for every subscription box shipped, they‘ll donate a book to a child in need. We love their baby board book box (suitable for kids aged 0 to 3 years old). Each box includes fun stickers and four board books chosen by parents with babies in mind. And when your little one is ready to move on, you can easily change your plan to incorporate picture books too. Lillypost is shipped monthly and has a range of flexible payment options. Bonus: Opt in to receive gift-wrapped seasonal books that celebrate the major holidays.
Buy it: Starting from $17, Lillypost.com
Tired of trawling the internet to find the best books for newborns and toddlers? Check out Bookroo. This baby book club has access to thousands of titles thanks to the purpose-built Bookroo platform that’s dedicated entirely to children’s books. And these books don’t skimp on quality—each story is vetted by Bookroo’s in-house team of experts as well as librarians, parents and real-life kids (of course!). Each box contains three top-notch board books, plus inserts with additional information from authors and illustrators. Bookroo has flexible payment options and subscribers can choose to have books delivered once a month or every other month. If you receive a book that’s already in your collection, give it to a friend, take a picture, send it to Bookroo and they’ll add a $5 credit to your account.
Buy it: Starting from $17 per month, Bookroo.com
My First Reading Club creates book boxes for kids of all ages. The box for newborns and toddlers (ages 0 to 2 years old) includes three hard cover baby books, an activity book and a little gift for Mom. Each book is selected by a team of in-house experts, ensuring that each story is fun, engaging and age-appropriate. Better yet, this baby book club introduces little kids to key learning concepts like colors, numbers and shapes. Once your tot is ready to move on, you can easily switch to the fledgling reader plan, which focuses on educational picture books that are perfect for preschoolers. Book boxes are shipped each month and you can choose to be billed monthly, quarterly, semi-annual or yearly.
Buy it: Starting from $17, Cratejoy.com
Children’s books are an amazing tool for encouraging self-love and empathy, which is why representation in your little one’s books is so important. Just Like Me! Book Box was created with a mission of exposing children of color to characters, illustrations, authors and stories that are reflective of them. The team has access to thousands of African American titles, and they handpick two to three inspiring stories by award-winning authors for each book box, plus bonus book swag. As your child grows older, the books will become more advanced to keep them happy and engaged during storytime. This flexible subscription can be cancelled at any time—no strings attached.
Buy it: $28 per month, JustLikeMeBox.com
Nurture a lifelong love of reading with this fantastic baby and toddler book subscription. The Story Box is curated by a speech language pathologist and parents who carefully select stories that’ll help develop baby’s language and pre-literacy skills. The board book package, for kids aged 0 to 3 years old, contains two illustrated books and a guide for parents. The parent guide includes handy tips that’ll help you to support your child as they grow and learn, plus fun activities that relate to the books in your package. And if you have a baby and toddler at home, you can sign up to the family package—it includes one board book and a picture book for tots. The best part? A portion of each subscription fee is used to donate books and toys to children with disabilities and low-income families.
Buy it: Starting from $15 per month, JoinTheStoryBox.com
Looking for a baby book club that celebrates all voices? Check out Little Feminist. It’s a subscription that focuses on “stories less told.” Each month you’ll receive two books that feature diverse, LGBTQIA+ and disabled characters (to name a few!). Each package comes with a fun DIY activity, a discussion card and a letter to parents that explains why the books were chosen. Choose from a range of flexible billing options and cancel anytime. This book subscription for kids has four unique plans that cater to newborns, toddlers, preschoolers and big kids—so there’s something for every member of the family.
Buy it: Starting from $19 per month, LittleFeminist.com
If you’ve already filled your shelves with classic baby books, perhaps it’s time to try something new. Introducing Elephant Books, the baby book subscription that’ll send you only titles published within the last three years. In every monthly box you’ll receive two to three gift-wrapped hardcover children’s books, reading tips and bookplates. Curated by a team of experts—including teachers, authors, parents and kids—these stories are undiscovered treasures that your little bookworm will want to read again and again. Bonus: Elephant Books offers true value for money, saving you 30 percent off the retail list price.
Buy it: $18 per month, Cratejoy.com
If you’re looking for a personalized baby and toddler book club, Literati may be the one for you. It’s a little different than other services on this list as you get to test out the books before purchasing your favorites. The sign-up process is easy: Simply take the quiz to set your child’s reading goals, add their interests and choose which types of books you’d like to receive. Literati will then create a custom reader profile. Once a month you’ll receive five age-appropriate books, a collectible art poster, stickers and a personalized surprise. You’ll have a week to decide which titles you’d like to keep, then return the ones you don’t wan’t free of charge. Oh, and did we mention that each box has a unique theme? How cute!
Buy it: $10 a month, Literati.com
Spark your little reader’s imagination with Owl Post books. Created by an experienced educator, who handpicks every story, this service provides amazing books with affordable options to suit every type of family. Depending on the plan you pick, Owl Post will send you one to three engaging tales per month alongside a festive seasonal craft and fun theme cards. This kids’ book subscription has options for babies, toddlers, little kids and tweens, meaning it’ll grow with your family. Try it out for a month or sign up for a long-term subscription—the choice is yours.
Buy it: Starting from $15 per month, Cratejoy.com
The Equal Opportunities Book Box believes that every child has a right to great-quality reading material. That’s why for every purchase made, one book is donated to Bernie’s Book Bank, an organization that supplies books to children in need. Sign up and every month your kid will receive three top-quality board or picture books. Better yet, each themed box features people of color, LGBTQIA+ characters and/or protagonists with disabilities. Bonus: All of the packaging is made from recycled materials.
Buy it: Starting from $25 per month, EqualOpportunitiesBookBox.com
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