How to Add a Library Book to a Kids Kindle
A few years ago, we gave Ella a Kids Kindle ereader for Christmas and I wrote a whole post about them here.
Since then, the number one question I’ve been asked about the Kids Kindle is “Can you put library books on a Kids Kindle?”
The good news is YES!
It’s not obvious how to do it and it took me a bit of fiddling around to figure out how to do it, but once I knew the steps, I could have library books added to Ella’s kindle in 90 seconds or less.
Here’s how to do it!
How to Add a Library Book to a Kids Kindle
First, log into Overdrive or Libby and choose the ebook you want to check out for your child.
You can filter in the left hand column for only Kindle format ebooks, which makes it much quicker to find the right books.
Once you’ve selected a book, click “Borrow” and when this window pops up after your completed your checkout on the library end, click “Read Now with Kindle.”
It’ll connect you to Amazon (you’ll need to sign in if you’re not currently signed in) and then choose “Get Library book.”
Once you’ve completed the checkout on Amazon’s side, you’ll get a thank you notice. In that thank you notice, choose “Manage Your Content and Devices.”
A full list of all your digital books will pop up and it’s usually sorted by what you’ve most recently checked out, so your new library book should be first. On the right side, click “More Actions.” When this box pops open, scroll down to the bottom and click “Manage family library.”
It will show all your libraries, including any FreeTime libraries associated with a Kids Kindle. Click “Add to Library” next to your child’s name that has the Kids Kindle and . . .ta-da! The library book is added to their Kindle.
The next time they sync it, it’ll pop right up in the “Added for You” section of their home screen on their Kindle.
Any other questions about adding library books to a Kids Kindle? I’m happy to help!
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I found this post while trying to find a way to add non-Kindle books to a Kids Kindle account, but I thought it may be useful to readers here to know there is a simpler way to add library books )that are Kindle books) to a kid’s account. After checking out Kindle books from the library and then being redirected to the Amazon page to claim the books, I then go to parents.amazon.com where the profiles for each child can be accessed. I go to Add content under settings and put a check mark on all the books that show up. This is much faster to do than going to my amazon account and doing it there.
I’m so excited to read this one. It’s wonderful!!
Is it possible to send files via email as for common Kindle? Nothing said about file transferring
Thank you for this great post. If following these steps takes you to Amazon’s website does that mean that from there you can access other parts of Amazon’s website? We’re considering a Kindle for a child that we don’t want to have access to the internet, etc. We only want it for reading. Is that even possible since you have to be connected to get library books too?
You’re not doing this on the Kindle – you’ll need to use a different device (a phone or computer) to get the library books, so they won’t have access to Amazon or anything else on the internet from their Kindle.
I have tried this with every permutation offered in the comments. I cannot get any Libby checked out books on it the sons kindle kids device.did Amazon change the process and do I need to setup a full fledge adult account for him if I want Libby to send the books to his device? The option for recently shared or added just aren’t anywhere on the kindle to be found once in the kids account
Try using the search bar to pull up the book on his Kindle (it definitely still works – I just sent Libby books to my kids kindles this week).
This is such a helpful guide! I had no idea it was so easy to add library books to my child’s Kindle. Thanks for breaking it down step by step—can’t wait to try it out!
Janssen, thank you so much for this thorough tutorial! My daughter recently got her own kindle but the books kept showing up just on mine. Googling did not help but then I thought, I bet Janssen has a tutorial. And you did! Exactly what I needed, and now she has her library books on her kindle. You’re the best!
I followed all these steps and still can’t see the Libby books unless I exit Amazon kids. Is there a way to hide my books?
Have you tried searching for the books you’ve added in Amazon Kids or scrolling down to the “Recently Added” section?
I’m having the same issue!! Have Amazon started blocking this? They are telling me on the chat that I can’t share it with my kids, but clearly people have been able to do this before!
Amazon gave me this response, which makes it sound like they now make you pay for kids unlimited before your children are allowed to access library ebooks, which is so frustrating:
“You can share the borrowed book from kindle unlimited library however Public library books will be specific to your account as they are not served as amazon book”
I HIGHLY doubt this is true. It can be glitchy, but it should still be working as normal. A few tricks – make 100% sure you have added the library book to your child’s profile under “Manage Content and Devices,” make sure you scroll down to “Added for you” on their Kindle screen, and try searching for the title. You can also try restarting the Kindle to make sure it connects and resyncs.