Best Book Subscriptions for Kids to Keep Them Engaged

Literati Kids offers a variety of options, fun bonuses, and a try-before-you-buy approach. The subscription box arrives monthly (although subscribers can skip a month at any time) and contains five books around a theme, plus bonus goodies like bookplates, magnets, and more. Six different “clubs” are offered based on age and reading level: Neo (newborn to age three); Sprout (ages three to five); Nova (ages five to seven); Sage (ages seven to nine); Phoenix (ages nine to 12); and Titan (ages 13 and up).

Each club features books curated to suit the needs of kids at that reading level. Families have a week to go through all the books and decide which to keep or ship back; you’re only charged for the books you keep (plus a monthly membership fee). It’s a great way to try a variety of books, and the wide range of clubs makes it easy to keep up as your children progress.

Bookroo is a fantastic option for your child’s first book subscription box. Each board book club box comes with three carefully curated books suitable for reading with infants and toddlers. The books are made from sturdy pages tailored specifically for children who are still learning motor skills such as handling book pages. 

Pricing starts at about $20 per month, but there’s a discount available for multi-month subscriptions. A three-month subscription is roughly $25 or $2 per box, a six-month subscription is about $23 or $24 per box, and a year-long plan is approximately $20 or $22 per box depending on the age range. Shipping and handling are not included. 

Although there aren’t any goodies with these boxes, each one includes special inserts with bonus material, insights from authors and illustrators, and more.

OwlCrate is a mainstay in the YA world for its cleverly themed, elaborate boxes that often feature much-anticipated new releases. The company has translated that same approach to the OwlCrate Jr. box, which features exclusive editions of books that are less than two months old, plus supporting material and goodies. It’s ideal for the growing creativity and transitional reading experience of middle-grade readers. 

A typical monthly box costs about $33 plus $11.99 for shipping, but small discounts are available for multi-month subscriptions: A three-month plan costs about $96 (or $32 per box), and a six-month subscription costs roughly $186 (or $31 per box). The books do tend to be geared towards kids at a higher reading level, but lower-level readers can still enjoy them with a little support.

All the books include exclusive extras from the author, like signed bookplates. Every box comes with small goodies, a bonus book or game, and a collectible monthly magazine. It’s an exciting experience for this group of readers as they advance to more independent reading and complex titles.

Encouraging reading together as much as reading independently, Crate Expectations targets kids ages eight to 12. Boxes are designed with interactivity and exploration in mind, with STEM activities in every box to encourage the connection between reading and science. Plus, each includes a list of recommended reading; so if your child loves a particular book, it’s easy to find similar titles to read next, helping them take charge of their reading as they grow up.

Each month’s box features a book of the month, plus an “Adventure Guide” that includes author interviews, discussion questions, a STEM-themed activity complete with materials, a snack, a themed recipe, and other coordinating toys or games. 

A monthly subscription costs about $35, but there’s a small discount for a three-month prepay (roughly $99 total, or $33 per box) or a six-month prepay (around $186, a savings of $4 per box ). Shipping is approximately $9 per box. 

My Zoo Box blends together the book subscription model with a broader subscription-box style for a hands-on, multidimensional learning experience for young animal lovers.

Each monthly box centers on a particular animal, with a themed book, a plush animal, a postcard “from” the animal, an animal anatomy poster, a recipe, a complete kit for an art or science activity, and more. The Mini Zoo box is smaller, featuring just the book, stuffed animal, postcard, and a sticker.

Geared toward ages four to eight, the box definitely has a limited age range, but that specificity also makes it an ideal choice for families with young kids. The coordinating activities allow kids to brush up their reading skills, learn something new about a favorite animal, and get hands-on with multiple activities. 

The Mini Zoo option is the cheapest, at about $24 per month. For the full-size box, a monthly subscription costs roughly $38 per month, with discounts for a six- or 12-month commitment. Shipping is free to U.S. addresses.

For young readers learning crucial reading comprehension skills, the expertly selected and intentionally diverse selections from OurShelves provide the chance to expand knowledge in every way. The emphasis here is on the books themselves, reading skills, and the stories being told. The curators have backgrounds in library science, child psychology, education, early childhood development, and more, all applying their expertise to ensure the youngest readers are learning every step of the way (and loving it).

Annual subscriptions for quarterly boxes start at about $56 for a one-book box ($14 per book), while a three-book box starts at roughly $132 annually ($11 per book). These price points are for subscriptions that are prepaid for a year; it costs $1 or $2 more per book to pay quarterly depending on the plan. Shipping within the U.S. is included.

Subscribers can choose between three age levels: the Sunshine Box for ages two and under; the Rainbow Box for ages two to five, and the Treehouse Box for ages five to eight. Multi-aged boxes are also available. All books are selected to spark imagination and conversation, feature underrepresented voices and identities, and help young readers build their reading skills. The subscription is a great choice to give kids a solid foundation in reading comprehension that they can build on as they learn.

The biggest clue that Owl Post Books is our top pick for expanding kids’ imaginations is right in the title of its subscriptions. The categories it offers are the Reader’s Imagination Box (about $36 per month), the Reader’s Imagination Mini, (around $17 per month), and the YA Fantasy Imagination Box (roughly $33 per month). Each of the Reader’s Imagination plans is then divided into further subcategories: ages birth to three, four to seven, eight to 10, and 11 to 13. Kids 14 and up can also subscribe to the mini box, or, for a full-sized box, move up to the YA Fantasy subscription.

The signature offering, the Reader’s Imagination Box, includes three age-appropriate books each month, along with an interactive box and coordinating crafts. Shipping is free within the U.S.

Between the well-curated, often fantastical books and the cute (if not especially fancy) crafts, boxes from Owl Post Books invite kids to interact with stories and add their own personal touches. It’s a great way to give them a chance to learn about the magic of storytelling.

Elephant Books introduces children to contemporary authors both established and undiscovered. The subscription service prides itself on offering books that you might not find at your local bookstore or library. Plus, you get them for 15% to 20% off retail price.

By introducing children to new authors, Elephant Books encourages them to explore new topics and interests. Books are carefully chosen with input from teachers, authors, parents, and kids. And an enclosed guide helps parents turn each reading session into a well-rounded learning experience.

There are two subscription boxes to choose from: a box with three board books a month for ages two and under, and one with two hardcover picture books a month for children ages two to six. There are four different pricing tiers that vary based on how long you're willing to commit to the subscription. A monthly subscription costs nearly $30 a month; a three-month subscription runs almost $29 a month; a six-month subscription is roughly $28 a month; and a yearly subscription costs about $27 per month. Shipping in the US is free.