Free Books to Calm Your Mind and Soothe Your Soul
One of the most relaxing things we can do when we're stressed is read. It's an activity that allows us to escape the pressures of everyday life.
Maybe you made a New Year's resolution to read more, want less screen time for yourself and/or the kids, or you would love to spend more time reading to or with your children. We've compiled a list of resources you can use to find free books and magazines that will help you accomplish all of those things.
Free Paperback Books
Barnes & Noble Summer Program for Kids
Throughout July and August, kids can take advantage of the Barnes & Noble summer reading program. All you need to do is print the Summer Reading Journal from Barnes & Noble. Then after the child reads a book, they'll use the form to discuss which part of the book they liked most and why. After reading and discussing eight books, take the journal to a Barnes & Noble bookstore near you, and your child will be able to select one free book from the list of books in the journal.
Thanks to the Braille Books program blind and visually impaired children can also enjoy reading books. Since 1997, American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults has been sending children in the United States one free braille book each month. Enroll a child in the free program by completing the online form.
Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
In an effort to inspire young children to read, Dolly Parton started the Imagination Library. Each month children from birth to 5 years old will receive a book from Dolly. All you have to do is register on the website to start getting the books for your little ones. Although there are no income restrictions, the program isn't available in all areas. To check if it's available in your town, click here.
Library
Although ebooks seem to be the most popular these days, libraries still exist for those who prefer the old school way of getting a free print book. When you feel the need to leave the house, take a drive or walk to a nearby library to borrow free books you can earmark to your heart's content.
If you love the traditional way of having an actual book in your hands, Little Free Library would be perfect for you. The "little libraries" are book-sharing boxes where people leave books and also take one they want to read. Basically, you trade in a book you've read for one you haven't. As soon as you finish the book you took, you can return it and get another one.
There are over 100,000 book-sharing boxes in 115 countries. Check here to see if there's one near you. If you can't find one in your area, click here to see how you can make that happen.
Free Ebooks & Audiobooks
Here you'll find a large selection of free ebooks from authors such as James Patterson, Debbie Macomber, J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Joss Wood, Suzanne Fox, and many others. Genres include romance, young adult, crime, fantasy, billionaire romance, erotic, vampires, science fiction, thriller, horror, classics, and suspense. You can read the books that interest you from the website or download them.
Maybe you like to listen to a good book while you're cleaning, driving, or busy doing other things. Amazon offers audiobooks in a variety of genres. Not all the books are free, but it's easy to view only the free ones by selecting "Free Titles" under "Access" from the left side of the web page.
Gain access to books for toddlers up to young adults. In addition to books, there are educational materials such as textbooks, word searches, and activity books.
Goodreads is like a social network for bookworms. After you create a free account, you'll be able to read free ebooks, share your thoughts on the books you read, and communicate with other readers and even some authors.
Book lovers with a library card can get free access to several audiobooks, ebooks, magazines, movies, TV shows, comics, and music. Although both Hoopla and OverDrive are similar, OverDrive's partners are more than just libraries. OverDrive also partners with schools and publishers, so you can access their digital library with a library card or student ID.
Do you want to add free ebooks to your Kindle device? Click here to see all the Kindle books available for your reading pleasure. Use the left sidebar to narrow your selection by genre. To see the free titles, select "Top 100 Free."
Laugh Out Loud is a great place for learning! With more than 10,000 educational audio and video titles, you can gain knowledge about sales, marketing, entrepreneurship, investing, finance, history, technology, law, and so much more. There are audiobooks, courses, and documentaries.
Many Books offers book enthusiasts an extensive digital library of classic ebooks and newer books from self-published authors. You can look for a book by genre, author, and language.
Reading any of Novels Today's selection of fiction and nonfiction ebooks is as simple as clicking the "Read Now" button. No downloading is necessary. Plus, to make it easier on your eyes, you can adjust the font size and background color.
Are you a reader that enjoys classic books from authors such as Shakespeare, Poe, Dante, and others? These are the types of ebooks you'll discover at Project Gutenberg. The database includes over 50,000 classic titles for children and adults.
Whether you want to entertain your child while in the car or calm them at bedtime, Storynory has you covered with a nice selection of free audiobooks for kids. Choose from classic fairy tales, fables, Greek myths, world stories, Bible stories, poems, and educational stories.
Free Magazines
Are you in the food industry? You'll appreciate this free magazine from US Foods. Its pages are filled with the latest trends and advice to help you succeed in the food business. You can read the digital issue online or request print editions by mail.
Children ranging in age from 5 up to 9 may love the Lego Life magazine. Issues contain fun-filled Lego activities, comics, Lego creations by other youngsters, instructions to help them build their own creations, plus more.
Nextflix Jr. has educational activities, stories, kid-friendly recipes, coloring pages, and more for preschoolers. Pages feature characters from Netflix shows. This magazine is especially great for homeschooling parents and teachers!
The whole family can take pleasure in this free bi-monthly publication. It's a 40-page Christian magazine with inspiring true stories. You can download PDF versions of current and past issues.
Was another one of your New Year's resolutions to stay fit? Then here's your chance to kill two birds with one stone by signing up to get this free fitness magazine delivered to your mailbox.
PawPrint magazine helps dog and cat owners become better parents to their fur babies. They offer bonding tips, expert advice, and information to help pet lovers better understand their furry family members. If you're the parent of an adorable dog, cat, or both, request your free magazine subscription today.
Use your email address to gain free access to the Ranger Rick digital magazines for kids. Within the pages of each issue, you'll discover fun and educational content for kids of all ages.
So there you have it: our list of places to locate free books and magazines for all ages, in a variety of formats, to help you stick to your New Year's resolutions without spending money.
Remember, reading is fun! It doesn't have to be a chore or an obligation; it can be something you look forward to doing every day.
Bonus Savings:
Don't forget about our Sunday coupon inserts for saving more money when planning your in-store shopping trips.