Read it LOUD! Get Books

Make book connections in your neighborhood

If you read aloud every day, you’re going to need a lot of books! Where can you get books to read aloud?

  • Begin at your local public library—books abound, as do other resources to help you find good books and explore your child’s interests.

  • If your child’s elementary school has a school library, that’s another source for reading material for your read alouds. Many school libraries do allow parents to check out books. Talk with your child’s teacher or school librarian about making use of the school library.

  • Other places to find books include bookstores. Your community may have a bookstore chain, like Border’s or Barnes & Noble, an independent bookseller, or a great used bookstore. Used books can also frequently be found in thrift stores and at yard sales. Your local library may also hold regular used book sales—some even have small used bookshops in the library.

  • You can also trade books—and reading recommendations—with other families.

  • Some book shopping can also be done at big retailers such as Target or Walmart. And there are also many online book shopping opportunities you may want to try, especially to read reviews from other readers.

There are many children in the U.S. who don’t have access to books or books in their homes. But there are also organizations working to change that. First Book works through existing community programs, literacy efforts, and schools to provide children in need access to new books and reading materials at low or no cost. The Heart of America Foundation operates Books from The Heart, finding books that are not being used and getting them to where they’re needed most. These programs might already be operating in your community or just waiting to hear from a caring adult like you about how to meet the literacy needs of children where you live.

Connect with Books

In the links below, you’ll find more suggestions for how and where to get books to read aloud to your child.

How to get a library card

The American Library Association shares this checklist of items you will generally need to apply for a library card.

Better World Books

When you buy books from this online bookseller, you help support libraries and literacy—over 2,000 local libraries sell books through Better World Books. The company, which has raised $9M for literacy initiatives and re-used or recycled over 40M books, saving landfills, also has free shipping to anywhere in the world.

In Search of Free Books

This article from Reading Rockets details a variety of local and national resources for bringing children and books together.

PaperBackSwap.com

PaperBackSwap.com makes it possible for readers to share their already-read books with each other by making millions of used books available for online trading for just the cost of media mail postage.

Alternative Reading: Read Books Online

With today’s technology, it is possible to cozy up with a child and read a story online. But even without a tablet computer or handheld device, a computer and Internet connection can bring you and your child many free online children’s books to enjoy. Try these resources:

Read.gov

The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress provides a number of children's classic books online. 

Free online reading at the International Children’s Digital Library

The International Children’s Digital Library collection offers readers around the world free online access to some 4,459 exemplary children's books in more than 50 languages. There’s also a free iPhone app for reading on the go.

A Story Before Bed

Follow along as Children's Choice Book Awards’ authors read aloud their award winning books.

Online Storytime

Each month, Barnes & Noble.com shares a different book read by an author or celebrity during its free Online Storytime. Listen to the story and see the illustrations from the books as the story is read.

Photo source: peterme (Flickr-Creative Commons)