5 Baby Book Club Programs for Building Your Baby’s Library
Introducing your baby to the magical world of books is one of the greatest gifts you can give as a parent. Early exposure to literature not only enhances language development but also fosters a lifelong love for reading. The million dollar question: But where do you begin in curating a library for your littlest of little ones?
I found 5 baby book clubs that send books to your home, helping your baby's book collection grow as they do. Whether you're a new parent or devoted friend looking for the perfect baby shower gift, these programs offer a unique variety of ways to nurture your baby’s literary journey and start building their library from the very start.
Never too early to start nurturing your baby’s love of literature with a baby book subscription
Introducing your baby to the magical world of books is one of the greatest gifts you can give as a parent. Early exposure to literature not only enhances language development but also fosters a lifelong love for reading.
I found this out in my first two months of becoming a parent. For me, the transition into motherhood was so overwhelming and quite a bit harder than I expected. Reading picture books to my 2-month old daughter made me feel more confident as a mother. It also made me feel like I was making progress in my parenting journey.
This sentiment, I was hoping to share with my friend as she prepared to deliver her first baby, a little boy. I wanted to help her create a library for her baby boy. I wanted to help her set up a library for her baby boy. I wanted her to have plenty of good books to read when she became a mom.
The million dollar question: But where do you begin in curating a library for your littlest of little ones?
Why Invest in a Baby Book Club Program to Build Your Baby's Library?
First, baby books are almost always readily available; from online bookstores to physical libraries to retail stores. So why should you invest in a baby book club program to build your baby's library?
Baby book clubs use experts to choose books for your child's age. These books have pictures, colors, and words that help your child's language development at their current stage. Some programs create lists of books that users can only purchase through the program. A baby book club can provide a special collection of books just for your child.
Baby book clubs also help new parents easily build their baby's library at home. As a new parent, you may not have much time to research which books to add to your baby's library. A baby book club program can save you time by shipping books straight to your home, checking one thing off your now never-ending to-do list.
As I researched baby book club programs for my child, I made a surprising discovery. I found many programs that focus on building libraries for children who are learning to read. However, I wanted to help her foster a love of reading with her baby. This is where baby book club programs made the difference!
I found 5 baby book clubs that send books to your home, helping your baby's book collection grow as they do. Doctors recommend reading to your baby while they are still in the womb. Babies may not understand everything you read to them. However, this practice can help improve their language skills.
In this blog post, I will discuss 5 baby book club programs. These programs can assist you in growing your baby's library effortlessly. Whether you're a new parent or devoted friend looking for the perfect baby shower gift (like me), these programs offer a unique variety of ways to nurture your baby’s literary journey and start building their library from the very start.
1. Literati
Program Summary: One of the first baby book subscription programs I came across was Literati. One of the most appealing things about this program is that it is personalized for your baby. To get started, you tell the company about your little reader so they can curate book boxes specific to their interests. This can be very useful if you are putting together a box for older children. It could also be fun to create a box for your baby filled with books that parents will enjoy too.
Their Dreamer package is the one that caters to babies (newborn to 12 months) and includes board books with each shipment. This subscription service allows new parents to preview books at home before buying them.
Once your monthly shipment arrives, new parents have a week to decide which titles they’d like to keep, then return the ones they don’t want free of charge.
Pricing: The Dreamer Book Club costs $10 monthly plus the cost of any books you choose to keep. Literati estimates the cost to keep all 5 books they send is approximately $60/month. This brings the 1 year investment cost to between $120 (without keeping any books) and approximately $840 (keeping all books).
Ages: 0 to 12 months | Frequency: Monthly | Books per shipment: 5 | Shipping fee: Included | Book Type: Board Books | 1 Year Investment: $120 - $840 | Unique Aspects: Preview books in your home prior to purchase
2. Little Legacies Baby Book Club
Program Summary: One of the more unique baby book clubs I’ve found has an interesting feature: it does not have a subscription! This program, caters exclusively to babies ages 0-12 months. It automatically delivers beautiful, hardcover picture books to your baby, coordinating with your baby’s first year birthday milestones.
The first shipment includes a picture book and a personalized birth announcement plush toy inside an adorable keepsake box. Subsequent shipments will arrive at baby’s 3, 6, 9 and 12 month birthday milestones based on the chosen program plan.
Another unique feature of the program is their Lifetime Replacement Guarantee. They guarantee they will replace any book that has become unreadable with a brand new one, for FREE! Signing up requires a quick questionnaire to provide baby’s birth stats or due date information and a one-time payment.
Pricing: The program offers three different plans ranging from $74.99 to $124.99. The lowest option includes the newborn gift set at birth and an additional book sent at the baby’s first birthday. The middle option includes books at baby’s birth, half and first birthdays. The highest option includes books sent at baby’s 3, 6, 9 and 12-month birthday milestones.
The total 1 year investment for this program is simply the one-time cost of whichever program parents choose.
Ages: 0 to 12 months | Frequency: Varies | Books per shipment: 1 | Shipping fee: Included | Book Type: Hardcover Picture Books | 1 Year Investment: $74.99 - $124.99 | Unique Aspect: Books shipped at your baby’s first year birthday milestones
3. Amazon Book Box
Program Summary: One player in the baby book subscription space that I was surprised to see is Amazon. Exclusive to Amazon prime subscribers, Amazon Book Box delivers new books every one, two or three months with books tailored to your child’s age.
Their baby book subscription program – appropriate for ages 0 to 2 years - ships with four board books in each shipment. The first shipment arrives with their prime exclusive FREE Two-Day Shipping after sign-up.
For subsequent boxes, parents will receive an email preview of books to be included. Parents have 5 days to choose alternate titles or skip their box altogether before their box ships. As a bonus, this program offers 40% off the book’s list price, making it an affordable option for budget friendly parents or gift givers.
Pricing: Each monthly shipment is $19.95 plus tax, making mom and dad’s subscription costs predictable. The total 1 year investment cost can range from $19.99 for just one shipment to $239.88 for a total of 12 shipments.
Ages: 0 to 2 years | Frequency: Monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly | Books per bundle: 4 | Shipping: Free | Book Type: Board Books | 1 Year Investment: $79.96 - $239.88 | Unique Aspect: Select your books prior to shipping
4. Bookroo
Program Summary: Parents that appreciate books of uniform aesthetic will love Bookroo. This baby book club - appropriate for newborns to toddlers ages 0-3 years - ships three board books per shipment to your baby. What's unique about this program is all books are of uniform height and have coordinated spines to yield a truly stunning baby library.
Subscribers have the option to sign up for a 3, 6 or 12-month subscription. They can even pay for their subscription on a month-to-month basis. One of the more unique aspects of their program is their book replacement plan. If you receive a duplicate book you already own, simply take a photo with both books and they will credit your account!
Pricing: Bookroo offers scheduling flexible pricing plans for just about any budget. Month-to-month pricing starts at $24.95 per shipment plus shipping and handling charges. A 12-month subscription runs $19.95 per shipment plus shipping and handling.
This is one of the few programs that does still charge a separate shipping and handling fee. This brings the 1 year investment to between $24.95 + s/h to $299.40 + s/h.
Ages: 0 to 3 years | Frequency: Monthly, quarterly, bi-annually or yearly subscription terms | Books per shipment: 3 |Shipping: Additional Cost | Book Type: Board Books | 1 Year Investment: $24.95 - $299.40 | Unique Aspect: Account credit for duplicate books
5. Little Hippo Book Club
Program Summary: This service prioritizes sensory touch and feel books allowing babies to engage in discovery. Designed with babies and toddlers ages 0-2 years in mind, parents will receive three board and/or sensory books each month.
Like Bookroo, Little Hippo offers subscribers flexibility in their subscription term. Little Hippo offers a 3, 6 or 12 month subscription term in addition to a 1-time purchase option. Signing up is easy; add your desired subscription frequency to your cart and checkout with your first month’s payment due at signup.
Pricing: Like Bookroo, the longer the subscription term, the greater the savings with this baby book club program. A 3-month subscription term comes is $25.59 per shipment with a one year subscription term coming in at $22.39 per shipment, a 30% savings.
If you decide to purchase a shipment as a one-time purchase, you can do so for $31.99 per shipment. This brings your one year investment to between $31.99 to $268.68.
Ages: 0 to 2 years | Frequency: Frequency: Monthly, quarterly, bi-annually or yearly subscription terms | Books per shipment: 3 | Shipping: Free | Book Type: Board Books | 1 Year Investment: $31.99 - $268.68 | Unique Aspect: Books focused on sensory
Final Thoughts
Making your decision on which baby book club to join isn't a cut and dry decision. The ultimate decision will come down to what is best for parent and baby. Some programs offer one-time payments in lieu of subscriptions while others prioritize the type of books over the quantity delivered. In my opinion, parents and gift givers can't go wrong with any of these programs!