5 Ways to Get Free Books Online (And How to Get Your Kids to Read Them)

It’s never easy to get children excited about reading, but in quarantine it seems to be even more difficult. Overwhelmed with homeschool assignments and electronic devices calling their names, getting your kids to pick up a book has proven a daunting task during this pandemic.

Below you’ll find ten quick tips to encourage your children to keep reading.

1. Read together — and never stop. There’s no age limit, too young or too old, for reading to your kids.
2. Express interest in their books. Ask them what they are reading and listen attentively as the describe the story.
3. Ask questions as you read together. Make story time interactive and keep everyone engaged.
4. Don’t force books on them; let them make their own choices.
5. Set a good example. A child who sees his parents read will want to read as well.
6. Try graphic novels and comic books. There’s nothing wrong with visuals; they might be the key to getting kids reading.
7. Pay attention to specific authors. If your child seems to like a particular author, offer more ooks from that author. You can even explore the author’s website together to learn more.
8. Take note of child’s interests. Your child might enjoy sports-themed books, or books about music, or nature — anything they enjoy in real life will make for fun reading time.l
9. Carve out daily reading time and make it part of your routine. Try not to skip story time– turn it into a ritual for your family that kids can look forward to.
10. Have fun! Be silly when reading together. Use funny voices, make sounds and be expressive. Your child will always associate reading with fun in this way, even when reading on his own.

Although your kids are glued to their phones and tablets, they can still spend that time productively. Below you will find five websites where kids (and some adults too) can read books for free.

1. 1. ReadingIQ (use code LOVEREADING) – Over 7,000 books for kids of all reading levels.
   2. New York Public Library – Apply for a library card using the SimplyE app and gain access to over 300,000 E-books.
   3. Open Library – A project of the Internet Archive, their goal is one web page for every book ever published.
   4. Barnes & Noble – Get the free NOOK reading app and choose from millions of bestselling E-books.
   5. Amazon – Download a free Kindle app and gain access to free children’s E-books.

Check out our list of free virtual story times (scroll to the bottom of the page) from celebrities, authors, and more!

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