The following are a list of websites for ebooks and audiobooks. Some require a login, though it may be free to sign up, while others should only be used with parental guidance due to the variety of books offered.
Nova Scotia Public Library
The Nova Scotia Public Library system has partnered with OverDrive to provide ebooks (digital copies) and audio books (text read aloud by a real person) to provide alternative text options to it's users. Students need only have a library card (free) and the app (available in Android and iOS, also free) to access ebooks and audio books from the library. The Libby app is better suited for younger students. Recently a special section for Kids & Teens has been added!
Epic!
Epic is a digital library for children 12 years and younger. It is free for teachers but costs $7.99 per month for parents/families. It includes books, videos, and quizzes, with no ads or in-app purchases. Parents can get a free 30-day trial and cancel anytime. It can be accessed online or through an app (both Android or iOS). If your child’s homeroom teacher is using Epic you can access it at home as well for free! Please check with your child's teacher.
Funbrain Reading
Funbrain (since 1997), created for kids ages preschool through grade 8, offers more than 100 fun, interactive games that develop skills in math, reading, and literacy. Teachers and librarians can confidently encourage students to use Funbrain during their free time in class, assured that kids will enjoy an educational, safe online learning experience. Plus, kids can read a variety of popular books and comics on the site, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amelia Writes Again, and Brewster Rocket.
International Children’s Digital Library - A Library for the World's Children
The International Children's Digital Library (ICDL) is a research project funded primarily by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS), and Microsoft Research to create a digital library of outstanding children's books from all over the world. Started in 2002, the collection's focus has been on identifying materials that help children to understand the world around them and the global society in which they live. The materials in the collection, all presented in the original languages in which they were published, reflect similarities and differences in cultures, societies, interests, and lifestyles of peoples around the world.
Starfall – Learn to Read with Phonics
Starfall.com opened in September of 2002 as a free public service to teach children to read with phonics. The systematic phonics approach, in conjunction with phonemic awareness practice, is useful for preschool, kindergarten, first grade, second grade, special education, homeschool, and English language development (ELD, ELL, ESL) students. Starfall is an educational alternative to other entertainment choices for children.
Just Books Read Aloud
A collection of 726 children's books read aloud. This website only contains children’s books and there are no advertisements or other revenue generating opportunities on the site. This website contains YouTube videos of volunteers reading books aloud. The website developer is: [email protected]
Tumble Book Library
A collection of animated online storybooks you can read or listen to, intended for early elementary students. A library card is required to access all books.
Kids Reading Zone – Kids @ the Library
Halifax Public Libraries website for children using the library system to access books online. Includes suggested reading lists and websites to help reluctant readers find books they’ll love.
Project Gutenberg
Project Gutenberg was amongst the first producers of free high quality ebooks, all of which were previously published by bona fide publishers. They have been digitized and diligently proofread with the help of thousands of volunteers. Project Gutenberg offers over 46,000 free ebooks. You may choose among free epub books, free kindle books, download them or read them online. This site includes copyright free books from various levels, use with parental guidance.
Storyline Online
The Screen Actors Guild Foundation (SAG-AFTRA) records well-known actors reading children’s books and makes graphically dynamic videos so that children around the world can be read to with just the click of a Storyline Online video book image. Reading to children has been repeatedly shown to improve their reading, writing and communication skills, logical thinking, concentration and general academic aptitude… as well as inspire a love of reading.
Storynory – Free Audio Stories
Storynory was founded by Hugh Fraser and Matthew Lynn. The founders believe that there are many benefits to listening to literature. Storynory's actors read myths, fairy tales, and original series.
Tar Heel Reader
Tar Heel Reader is a collection of free, easy-to-read, and accessible books on a wide range of topics. Each book can be speech enabled and accessed using multiple interfaces, including touch screens, the IntelliKeys with custom overlays, and 1 to 3 switches. You may also write your own books using pictures from the huge collection at Flickr or pictures you upload. All books should be complete, edited, and revised to the best of your ability before publishing them to the site.
Howard B. Wigglebottom Collection - Presented by the We Do Listen Foundation
The We Do Listen Foundation is a non-profit corporation, whose intention is to enable children to enjoy inner peace and communicate in a more effective way. Consisting of artists, designers, writers, librarians, therapists, counselors, parents and grandparents, these individuals create entertaining, educational books, videos, games and songs to help young children become better listeners, learn important life lessons and feel good about themselves.
Unite for Literacy
Mike McGuffee , Mark Condon and Kurt Hoeven began Unite for Literacy in 2012. Unite for Literacy works with the business community and provides a platform and tools to make picture book abundance a reality for every community in the world. Narration is available in many different language for the picture books on the Unite for Literacy website.
Digital Comic Museum
The Digital Comic Museum offers free access to hundreds of pre-1959 comic books, uploaded by users who often offer historical research and commentary alongside high-quality scans. The archive offers an interesting window into the themes of lesser-known comics in the Golden Age, including romance, westerns, combat, crime, supernatural and horror. The covers of the romance comics are great examples of popular art. This site includes public comments on comic book uploads, use with parental guidance.