Raising Kids Activities Best Baby Book Subscriptions We like Literati Kids' try-before-you-buy baby book subscription box By Nicole Bonaccorso Nicole Bonaccorso Twitter Nicole is an expert in healthy family living, diet and exercise, and wellness. Her work has appeared on Weather.com, AskMen.com, Upworthy, NBC.com, RetailMeNot, and Mashable. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 07, 2023 Medically reviewed by Tyra Tennyson Francis, MD Medically reviewed by Tyra Tennyson Francis, MD LinkedIn Tyra Tennyson Francis, MD, is a board-certified family medicine physician and currently serves as the medical director of an outpatient clinic. Learn about our Medical Review Board Fact checked by Sean Blackburn Fact checked by Sean Blackburn LinkedIn Sean Blackburn is a fact-checker and researcher with experience in sociology and field research. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. It’s never too early to start building your child’s library, and most families find they love snuggling up to read books together. Plus, books are critical for early learning. Research has found that children who are read to early in life show better rhyming ability, verbal comprehension, and concept formation than those who aren't read to. These linguistic abilities boost later academic development and life skills. A baby book subscription box helps you collect the books that will build your baby's vocabulary. A book subscription is also a great way to get young children (and parents!) excited about reading. You’ll get new titles regularly to help your baby better understand the world and strengthen your bond with them. Here are our picks for the best baby book subscription boxes on the market today. Best Baby Book Subscriptions of 2023 Best Overall: Literati Kids Best for Toddlers: Bookroo Best for Boosting Creativity: Owl Post Books Best for Learning Concepts: My First Reading Club Best for Diverse Characters: Ourshelves Best for Bilingual Families: Sol Book Box For Animal Lovers: My Zoo Box Best Baby Book Subscriptions View All Best Baby Book Subscriptions Our Top Picks Literati Kids Bookroo Owl Post Books My First Reading Club Ourshelves Sol Book Box My Zoo Box See More (4) Final Verdict Compare Providers How to Choose FAQs Methodology Best Overall : Literati Kids Sign Up Now Key Specs Pricing: $10 per month, plus the cost of the books you choose to buyDelivery: MonthlyNumber of Plans: 4 Why We Chose It Literati Kids is a try-before-you-buy service for books. You and your little one will get a week to decide which books to keep before buying or returning. Pros & Cons Pros Unique book choices Prepaid shipping label for returns Four book clubs offered for four different age groups Cons Late returns not accepted Little control over what you receive Overview You’ll receive five carefully curated books for your child's age group every month with the Literati Kids’ Club subscription. Once you receive your books, you’ll have a week to decide which ones you want to buy. After that, pay for and keep the books you want and return the rest using the prepaid shipping label provided. The cost of each book will either match or beat Amazon's listed prices. When signing up, you'll need to choose the appropriate age group: Babies & Toddlers Box for 0 to 4 years old; Preschool Box for 4 to 8 years old; 3rd-5th Grade Box for 8 to 11 years old; and 6th-8th Grade Box for 11 to 14 years old. Each month’s box has a fun theme, and in the past these have included math; Wit + Wisdom; Star Wars; Infinity + Beyond, which explored space and exploration; and Game On, which focused on athletes and sports. Boxes ship monthly, and you’ll pay a $10 monthly subscription fee (which includes shipping), plus the cost of the books you purchase. Best for Toddlers : Bookroo Sign Up Now Key Specs Pricing: $20 to $24 per monthDelivery: MonthlyNumber of Plans: 4 Why We Chose It Your toddler will love receiving their Bookroo delivery because each book is individually wrapped, so it feels like a real surprise. You can choose a subscription for babies and toddlers ages 0 through 3 or kids ages 3 through 6, ages 7 through 10, and ages 9 through 12. Pros & Cons Pros Books for several age groups available Each book is wrapped like a gift Flexible payment options Cons No international delivery Overview What toddler doesn't love a gift? Bookroo makes a book subscription fun for babies and toddlers because each book is gift-wrapped, upping the excitement your child will experience when their new books arrive. You can choose between the board book subscription (best for ages 0 through 3), which comes with three books each month, or the picture book subscription (for ages 3 to 6), which comes with two books per month. There is also junior chapter book club (for ages 7-10), which comes with two hardcover books for a month, or the middle grade book club (for ages 9-12), which comes with two chapter books per month Subscribers can save money by paying for three, six, or 12 months upfront. There is also an option to pay monthly if you prefer. Annual prepayment comes to about $20 per box, a six-month prepayment comes to about $23 per month, and a three-month prepayment comes to approximately $24 per month. Monthly payments without prepayment are around $25. Users can also opt for a box every other month. Best for Boosting Creativity : Owl Post Books Sign Up Now Key Specs Pricing: $15 to $33 per monthDelivery: Monthly Number of Plans: 3 Why We Chose It We chose Owl Post Books as best for creativity because each box comes with a craft and an interactive experience. Pros & Cons Pros Choose 1 or 3 books per month Each delivery comes with a seasonal craft Each delivery includes an interactive box Cons All subscriptions are monthly No refunds Overview Not only does Owl Post Books deliver handpicked new reads to your door every month, but each interactive box comes with a seasonal craft for your child to enjoy as well. While the youngest subscribers may not be able to craft quite yet, it may come in handy as babies and toddlers develop a sense of creativity. Subscription options include: Imagination Box: 3 hand-selected books for $33Imagination Mini: 1 hand-selected book for approximately $15YA Fantasy Imagination Box: 3 young adult novels per box for $30 Shipping is included. When subscribing, you’ll select your child's age range from 0 to 13 or young adult. Best for Learning Concepts : My First Reading Club Sign Up Now Key Specs Pricing: $17 to $20 per monthDelivery: MonthlyNumber of Plans: 5 Why We Chose It If you're looking for monthly deliveries of books that teach learning concepts like colors, numbers, and shapes, My First Reading Club does just that. Pros & Cons Pros Offers board books for babies, and additional options for kids 3 to 12 years old Learning concepts addressed in each box Gift for parent in each box Cons Website is difficult to navigate Customer service is not easy to contact No set shipping schedule Overview The books in each My First Reading Club box teach key learning concepts for babies and toddlers, including colors, numbers, shapes, sign language, the senses, beginner Spanish, and motor skills development. Each box packs three books and a gift for the parent, so you’ll both have a fun time bonding while opening each package. Subscribers can cancel any time and receive a refund for books that didn’t yet ship. The book subscription offers books tailored to the youngest babies through 12 years old. The youngest age group is 0 to 2 and it comes with sturdy board books safe for teething babies. You can pay monthly, which costs about $20. You can also prepay for three months at roughly $19 per delivery, six months for approximately $18 per box, and a year for around $17 per month. Shipping is always free. Best for Diverse Characters : Ourshelves Sign Up Now Key Specs Pricing: $15 or $36 per boxDelivery: QuarterlyNumber of Plans: 2 Why We Chose It OurShelves features books with Black and Brown characters, LGBTQ characters, neurodiverse characters, and more. The subscription is a great way to fill your child’s bookshelf with relatable and diverse characters. Pros & Cons Pros Offers diverse books for babies and kids Activities included in 3-book and 5-book subscriptions Free shipping Cons Only ships 4 times per year Only available in the U.S. Can become expensive Overview Children should see people who look like them in their books as well as out in the world. You can start diversifying your child’s bookshelf early by subscribing to OurShelves; the youngest age range is for babies ages 0 to 2. The subscription includes characters of different racial identities, LGBTQ characters, and neurodiverse characters. Another great thing about OurShelves is that the company uses consumer power to advocate for diversity in children’s books. OurShelves shares data with publishers about the types of books consumers are interested in and much more. Subscribers can choose from two plans and pay quarterly or annually. One book per box: $15Three books per box and an activity to encourage further discussion: $36 Each subscription ships four times per year. Best for Bilingual Families : Sol Book Box Sign Up Now Key Specs Pricing: $18 to $35 per monthDelivery: MonthlyNumber of Plans: 3 Why We Chose It Sol Book Box ships monthly deliveries of bilingual or Spanish children’s books to your door for children ages 6 and younger. Pros & Cons Pros Books are individually gift wrapped 3 payment plan options Unique, hard-to-find books shipped to you Cons Base subscription only offers one book for $18 Cannot select age range Overview Another way to diversify your child’s reading list is to include bilingual or Spanish books on their shelves. Sol Book Box delivers one hard-to-find bilingual or Spanish board or picture book to your door every month. Each book is gift-wrapped to make the delivery extra special, and if you buy a multi-month plan, you'll get a bonus book. Parents can choose from three different plans, all with free shipping: Picture Book Box ($18 per month) includes one beautifully illustrated, culturally relevant picture book. Subscribers choose to receive either Spanish-language or bilingual titles or a mix of both.Board Book Box ($22 per month) includes two Spanish or bilingual board books. Parents can choose the language and also receive information about why each book was chosen.Familia Book Box ($35 per month) includes three hand-selected, age-appropriate books. One is a picture book and two are board books, and you can choose Spanish-language, bilingual, or a mix. If you receive a book you already have in your home library, you can contact Sol for a replacement. For Animal Lovers : My Zoo Box My Zoo Box Learn More Key Specs Pricing: $24 to $40 per monthDelivery: MonthlyNumber of Plans: 3 Why We Chose It My Zoo Box will keep you and your toddler engaged each month with a fun animal-themed book, a plush animal toy that matches, and lots of fun activities. Pros & Cons Pros Each month is focused on a different animal Box includes a book, a toy, and a craft, game, or activity Box sent on the same day each month so you know when to expect it Cons You do not chose the theme Animal theme can become boring for some toddlers Overview My Zoo Box is perfect for animal lovers. Each monthly subscription box includes a book, plush animal friend, art or science activity (all supplies included), animal anatomy poster, postcard from the animal, recipe, and sticker for the zoo passport (provided in the first subscription box). There's also a special extra surprise. My Zoo Box is a perfect option for those who want to gift a book subscription but aren't too familiar with the child's likes or the books already in their home library. Unlike other subscriptions that require you to choose the age and desired theme or preferences for the child, all you have to do is sign up, provide the address and payment info, and the first box will be shipped on the seventh of each month with a different animal. The Mini Zoo subscription starting at $24 a month is perfect for children ages 2 and up and includes an animal friend, book, passport sticker, and postcard. Final Verdict Our favorite baby book subscription on this list is Literati Kids for the unique try-before-you-buy service where you and your little one get a week to decide which books to keep before buying or returning. But if you're looking for a diverse book subscription, we love Ourshelves for the representation of Black and Brown characters, LGBTQ+ characters, and neurodiverse characters. Compare the Best Baby Book Subscriptions Subscription Pricing Delivery Number of Plans Ages Best Overall Literati Kids $10 per month plus the cost of the books you buy Monthly 6 0-13+ Best for Toddlers Bookroo $20 to $24 per month Monthly or every other month 4 0-3+ Best for Boosting Creativity Owl Post Books $15 to $33 per month Monthly 3 0-13+ Best for Learning Concepts My First Reading Club $17 to $20 per month Monthly 5 0-2+ Best for Diverse Characters OurShelves $15 or $36 per box 4 times per year 2 0-2+ Best for Bilingual Families Sol Book Box $18 to $35 per month Monthly 3 8 and under Best for Animal Lovers My Zoo Box $24 to $40 per month Monthly 3 2+ for Mini Zoo, 4-8 for My Zoo Box Guide to Choosing the Best Baby Book Subscriptions Are Baby Book Subscriptions Right for Your Child? Baby book subscriptions can help parents save time and money building their child’s library. They can also deliver hard-to-find and unique books that parents otherwise may never come across in a bookstore. Book subscriptions are a great option for families who prioritize reading with their children. The American Academy of Pediatrics encourages all parents to read aloud to their children because this activity can enrich parent-child relationships and enhance children’s social-emotional development while preparing children to learn language and literacy skills. Comparing Baby Book Subscriptions There are book subscriptions for every family out there, whether you’re looking for books that feature diverse characters, teach key learning concepts, or encourage bilingual skills. Here are some key factors we recommend considering when purchasing a book subscription. Price: Does the subscription fit your budget? Is it flexible so that you can order more books or fewer per delivery or adjust the frequency of delivery to better fit your budget? Age ranges: Look for a plan that fits the age of your child or children. Some of the best book subscriptions offer plans for multiple age ranges, so you can continue as a customer for years as your child grows.Subject matter: Do the books address subject matter that's important to your family, like diversity, learning concepts, and creativity? Frequently Asked Questions What Do You Get With Baby Book Subscriptions? You may receive anywhere from one to five books monthly or in intervals of every other month, every two months, or four times per year. Some baby book subscriptions have bonus items such as activities, crafts, or gifts for the parents. Can Baby Book Subscriptions Help With a Child’s Development? Reading to a child from infancy can help boost their vocabulary and reading skills later. For example, reading to your baby encourages them to look, point, touch, and answer questions. Your baby also builds language skills by copying sounds, recognizing pictures, and learning new words. Plus, reading together helps with social development and thinking skills. Who Chooses the Books for Baby Book Subscriptions? Typically, experts, teachers, parents, and reviewers at the subscription service curate book choices each month based on the type of subscription and theme. What If I Find That the Subscription Does Not Fit My Baby's Needs? You may have to test out a few different subscriptions before you find the perfect fit for your baby's needs. It might be best to subscribe to a couple of services for a month at a time until you find the perfect fit. Your baby may also grow out of a subscription. In this case, either check with the company to see if there is a more age-appropriate option or test a new service or two until you find a better fit. Methodology We considered 31 book subscriptions when compiling this list. To narrow it down to the best options, we assessed book selection, price, age range, character and author diversity, educational value, and delivery locations. VerywellFamily / Design by Amelia Manley Article Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Niklas F, Cohrssen C, Tayler C. The sooner, the better: early reading to children. SAGE Open. 2016;6(4):215824401667271. doi:10.1177/2158244016672715 Council on Early Childhood, High PC, Klass P, et al. Literacy promotion: an essential component of primary care pediatric practice. Pediatrics. 2014;134(2):404-409. doi:10.1542/peds.2014-1384 Nemours KidsHealth. Reading books to babies. Updated by April McCormick April McCormick April is the health editor for performance marketing at Verywell, where she oversees family health, wellness, and lifestyle content. Her work has appeared in Real Simple, Martha Stewart Living, Verywell Mind, Verywell Family, Verywell, Fit, Verywell Health, Time, Parents, Parents Magazine, The Straits Times, The Huffington Post, TripSavvy, Parenting, First Time Mom and Dad, Mama Mia, All4Women, the New York Times Bestseller, A Letter To My Mom, and more. Learn about our editorial process Edited by Simone Scully Simone Scully Simone is the health editorial director for performance marketing at Verywell. She has over a decade of experience as a professional journalist covering pregnancy, parenting, health, medicine, science, and lifestyle topics. Learn about our editorial process and Ally Hirschlag Ally Hirschlag Ally is an expert in health, science, sustainability, wellness, mental health, and parenting. 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