Part of the magic of childhood is reading. Whether you love reading together as a family, or your kids are independent readers in search of more titles, read on for how to get free books for kids by mail!
As someone who could never get enough of books as a kid (and is now a parent myself), encouraging your children to read is one of the best things you can do for them.
However, it can get expensive fast to continue to purchase new titles, especially if your children are virocious readers. The library is of course always an option for free titles, but if you live somewhere with a small children’s section you might max out those selections quickly.
If you’re looking for free children’s books in the mail, you’re in luck! I’ve compiled a list of some great programs for kids of all ages. From magazines to baby books, check out this list of more than 35 places to get new books by mail!
Note: Some links may be affiliate links. That means I may make a commission if you use my links to purchase, at no extra added cost to you! I only recommend products that I personally love and believe in. Full disclosure here.
How to Get Free Books for Kids By Mail
1. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library
I was inspired to write this list after finding out about Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library while I was pregnant with my first child. She established this incredible program for the sole purpose of sending out free kids books by mail!
Any child from birth to age 5 in a participating community within the US, UK, Canada, Ireland and Australia can be signed up for the program, which sends out one book per month completely free of charge. To date, the Dolly Parton Imagination Library has sent out almost 134 million books to over 1.5 million kids.
2. FreeCycle
If you’re looking for a place to find more than just free books, be sure to check out FreeCycle! It’s made up of groups of people all around the world who are giving away free things in their local areas, as well as those looking for take these free things off their hands.
Very often free books are posted in these groups, and you can also find other fun, free items at the same time.
3. Your local library
Of course one of the best places to find free books is going to be the library, though that usually means heading there in person. But did you know that many libraries also offer a “book by mail” program in which books are mailed to your home?
Depending on your local library, they will either send books they think you’ll like based on a survey or you can choose specific titles.
Check the libraries near you to see if this is available!
4. Environmental Protection Agency
The EPA has a program in which they will send free activity books for kids by mail to anywhere in the US.
Aimed at promoting environmental awareness, these free books are also available in Spanish and have different options for different age groups.
Check out the five options available here for your children.
5. Craigslist
Craigslist is a great place to find low price and free items! Many people turn to the online yardsale website to give away free books when they’re downsizing or cleaning out storage.
6. Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Programs
I was excited to see that Barnes & Noble has a great summer reading program where kids can earn free books!
Kids in grades 1-6 earn a FREE book through the Barnes & Noble Summer Reading Program when they read any eight books and record them in the Summer Reading Journal you can download on the site. When they’re done, bring it to a Barnes & Noble store and choose your free book!
Be sure to double check the dates that the program runs, as this does end at the end of the summer each year.
7. Read Conmigo
Read Conmigo provides free books for kids in preschool through fifth grade by mail in Spanish and English and since 2010 has donated over 1 million books!
It’s currently only available in Florida, California and Texas but there is a chance for it to expand to other states in the future.
8. Amazon
While we all know that Amazon is one of the most popular places to buy books, you can also snag free books from them too.
With Swagbucks you can earn free money for things you’re probably already doing, like online shopping and playing games. And one of the ways it pays out the money you earn is through gift cards, including Amazon ones!
Use those gift cards to grab the books you truly want for free!
A great app for making extra money, including with cash back from online shopping, watching videos, playing games and more and earn a free sign-up bonus, too!
And given it’s paid out over $400 million through Amazon, Paypal and other gift cards to hundreds of thousands of shoppers.
9. Audible
While technically not an option to receive a physical book, there are a ton of great free book options on Amazon through Audieble.
You can get a free 30-day trial by signing up here with Audible, and you’ll be able to listen to free audiobooks during that time! Even if you decide to cancel during the free trial, you’ll still have access to that audiobook.
Additionally, Audible marks books free all of the time! It’s worth checking out, especially if you enjoy audiobooks.
10. Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg has an online collection of over 60,000 FREE books, mostly because their copyrights have expired.
Again, these books won’t come by mail, but this is still an incredible amount of free ebooks to choose from for your avid readers.
11. GoodReads
You probably know of GoodReads as a giant website full of thousands of book recommendations. It’s a great resource for choosing new books.
It also has a giveaways section where authors and publishers sometimes give away (you guessed it) free books!
Check out the GoodReads giveaway area for free novels by mail!
12. Hillsdale College
Hillsdale College offers a free pocket copy of the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution, which are great to have on hand for your children to read and learn from.
13. American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults
From children who are vision impaired and read braille, don’t miss this program offered by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults.
They can receive 12 free books for kids by mail, all titles that are new to braille! Check out their site to learn more details.
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Free books by mail in exchange for a review
This next section offers places to find free books by mail in exchange for an honest review.
14. Enchanted Book Promotions
Enchanted Book Promotions has a good variety of genres on its site. Just choose your book and post your review within one month to meet their requirements. You’ll then have the chance to review more books.
15. Page Chaser
Page Chaser (previously called Book Look Bloggers) is aimed at bloggers who post book reviews on their sites.
There are a few other requirements, so be sure to check out their site for the details.
16. NetGalley
NetGalley is one of the main sites that offer free books in exchange for reviews, partnering with some of the largest publishers around the world.
17. LibraryThing
LibraryThing gives you the chance to request specific titles and also see how many copies of each free book are available, as well as how many other people are requesting that title.
18. Fresh Fiction
Fresh Fiction is another option for requesting a free book by mail in exchange for a review.
There is a form on their website you need to fill out first and be approved as a reviewer.
22. Baker Publishing Group
Baker Publishing Group also gives you the option to review books in exchange for free copies.
It’s important to note they primarily have Christian books, and give preference to those who can share their reviews on other platforms.
Free Recipe Books
Have kids who love to cook? Check out these free recipe books by mail!
23. Sun-Maid Recipe Booklet
Sun-Maid, the go-to company for raisins, also offers three free recipe booklets.
They offer either a downloadable PDF or you can request a hardcopy version to be mailed to you.
24. JIFFY Recipe Book
The Jiffy Recipe Book is a completely free book by mail that can be sent to those living in the continental United States. may be what you need.
Religious books
There are a lot of options for free religious books by mail, too.
25. Bibles of America
Bibles of America has given away nearly 2 million free Bibles! They also offer other religious book options on their site as well.
26. Christian Focus Publications
Christan Focus Publications has a list of 13 free pocket-sized books. They describe them on their site as options that offer “an introduction to key concepts and people, that are important to the Christian faith..
27. BDK America
BDK America provides free hardcover copies of The Teaching of Buddha to anyone in the continental United States.
28. My Reader Rewards Club
My Reader Rewards Club (formerly Tyndale Blog Network of Tyndale Publishers) gives you the opportunity earn points towards free books through a variety of different tasks.
Free Coloring books by Mail
Any parent can tell you: you can never have enough coloring books! Did you know that you can also snag free coloring books in the mail, too for both kids and adults?
Check out these options!
29. ThatDailyDeal
ThatDailyDeal offers a free coloring book for adults by mail. It may take up to eight weeks for delivery, but you’ll love diving in when it arrives.
30. Natural Inquirer
The Natural Inquirer offer an adorable free “Bee a Scientist” coloring book!
From their website: “The Bee A Scientist Coloring Book is a coloring book produced by the Cradle of Forestry in America Interpretive Association (CFAIA) in partnership with the Forest Service. The coloring pages feature the Natural Inquirer bee engaging in different types of science and is a great basic introduction to different types of scientists.”
Free Magazines
Some kids prefer magazines to books. This next section lists places to find free magazines by mail, too.
31. LEGO
If you have a LEGO lover in your home, don’t miss the free LEGO Life Magazine!
This magazine is aimed at kids from five to nine years old and is full of comics, activities and more. It’s the closest thing to getting free comic books by mail on this list!
32. ValueMags
ValueMags has a large selection array of free magazines, no credit card required! Just enter your name and address to start receiving your free magazines by mail.
33. Guide2Free
Guide2Free has both free books and free magazines to choose from.
In some cases, you might need to provide a credit card. Always double check those details!
Free books mailed to your home in exchange for your books
Remember good old fashioned book exchanges from school? There are now websites that help you share your used books with someone else, while receive other books in exchange, too.
34. PaperbackSwap
PaperbackSwap allows you to list your used books for “swap” on their site. Once someone takes it, you’ll then have access to one of the more than 1.2 million free books they have on offer.
You’ll need to pay postage to send your books, but that means you won’t have to pay anything to receive books mailed to your house.
35. BookCrossing
BookCrossing is a community of almost 2 million book-lovers from around the world.
Just add your book on their “Book Map” and see what’s available near you.
36. BookMooch
Everytime you give someone a book on BookMooch, you earn a point. This then lets you get any book you want from anyone else on their platform.
You have to pay for postage when mailing a book to others, but this means that receiving a book is free.
Random lists of free books
37. Sweet Free Stuff
Sweet Free Stuff has a mixed range of free books, ebooks and magazines.
38. Hunt4Freebies
Hunt4Freebies lists free ebooks and free books as well as magazines.
35. International Children’s Digital Library
This great website is a treasure trove of fun options for children to read! This mission of this nonprofit organization is to “build a collection of books that represents outstanding historical and contemporary books from throughout the world… so that every child can know and appreciate the riches of children’s literature from the world community.”
Can I get free books by mail worldwide?
Specific examples from this list that let you get free books by mail worldwide are:
- FreeCycle
- Imagination Library
- The Free Site
- NetGalley
- BookCrossing
While many of the sites on this list are US based, there are many more options available for other countries out there too.
What’s the catch in getting free books mailed to your home?
There’s truly no catch with the websites on this list!
It’s important to note that some of the sites might require a credit card number for a free trial period. Just be sure you cancel your account before the trial ends so you don’t get charged!
How do I get free books on my iPhone?
Look for free ebooks to read books on your phone! You can easily use your iPhone to read many of those either with a free book app.
How can I download PDF books for free?
When it comes to eBooks, they are usually in the EPUB format. However, the sites listed here that have free PDF’s available as well only have PDF books that are free and legal to download.
Final thoughts on free books by mail
I don’t know about you, but free always feels better to me! When it comes to books, finding places you can get free books by mail is such a perk. It’s a great way to find new, age-appropriate books for your children!
This list included books for all age ranges, but isn’t comprehensive. There are LOTS more places out there to snag free books by mail too, as well as great options for physical books in your own hometown. Check out your local library, neighborhood little free libraries, or even free online e-books or ones available on public domain. Joining a book club for book exchanges with friends and family members is also a great idea.
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