24 best free sources of books and read-alouds online

Borrow ebooks and audiobooks from your public library. Search by age and format, and send books to a Kindle in the US. The first thing to set up.

The student version of Libby, used by many schools. Kids sign in with a school account and get the school's ebook and audiobook collection, often linked to the public library too.

Instant library borrowing with no waitlists for comics, picture books, audiobooks and movies. Libraries set a monthly limit, but there is no waiting for popular titles.

Library streaming with a kids' section of read-along videos, shows and films, with no ads. A good, calm option when you want screen time tied to books.

Actors read picture books aloud on video, with the pages on screen and activity guides for each book. Free, well made and loved by teachers.

Astronauts read children's books aloud on the International Space Station, and some videos show science demos in zero gravity. Reading and space science at once.

Short picture books with real photos, narrated in dozens of languages. Ideal for bilingual families, English learners and brand-new readers. Kids can switch the narration language on any page with one tap.

Thousands of leveled picture books in more than 300 languages, free to read, download and print. Kids can also make their own books with the art library.

Children's books from around the world, scanned in their original languages. A great way for kids to see how children in other countries read and live.

Thousands of free books in hundreds of languages, many made by local communities and teachers. Many have audio, and the app works offline. Free and ad-free, made for learners everywhere.

New African picture books made by volunteer writers and artists in a single day, free to read, print and translate. Fresh stories you will not find elsewhere.

Free early-grade reading books in many languages, with an app for offline reading. Built to give every child books in a language they understand. Free and ad-free for any family.

Over 100 phonics-based ebooks sorted by age and reading level, built for early readers learning to decode. Needs a free account. It is the UK publisher behind many school phonics schemes.

More than 70,000 free public-domain books, including classics like Alice in Wonderland, The Secret Garden and The Wind in the Willows. Read online or download.

Free audiobooks of public-domain books, read by volunteers around the world. Quality varies, so try a few readers before settling on one. Best for classics you already own in print, so kids can follow along.

Borrow scanned copies of many modern and older books online, one reader at a time, like a real library. Great for finding older or out-of-print titles.

Watch for: Some titles are under legal dispute and can disappear.

Free illustrated bedtime stories, fairy tales and poems, sorted by age and reading time. Handy when you need a quick new story at night. No sign-up needed to start reading.

Watch for: Ad-supported, so preview pages before young kids browse alone.

Hundreds of free audio stories, from fairy tales to Greek myths and original tales, with the text on the page for reading along. New stories are added most weeks.

Free read-aloud videos, book guides, games and printables built around specific children's books, from a long-running US literacy nonprofit. Start with the read-aloud videos, then print the matching activity sheets for later.

A free book mailed to your child every month from birth to age five, where a local partner runs it. Real paper books, at no cost.

Free leveled stories with an on-device AI reading buddy who listens as your child reads and helps with hard words. Practice and books in one ad-free app.

Watch for: Uses the microphone during reading sessions.

Accessible ebooks for people with dyslexia, low vision and other print disabilities, with text-to-speech and large print. Free for qualifying US students. Ask your school about signing up, since it can verify eligibility.

Find the free book-sharing boxes near you on a map, from front yards to parks. Take a book, leave a book, and maybe build one with your kids.

Authors and illustrators read their books and show how they make them. Inspiring for kids who like to draw and write their own stories. Videos are short and ad-free.