Welcome to International Read an Ebook week! But what if you’ve never read a digital picture book?
Chances are good that you’ve read at least one ebook before!
Even if you don’t have a Kindle device or other eReader, you’ve probably opened a PDF on your phone or computer to read.
Like a lot of parents, I prefer holding a book when I’m reading to my kids. I also love browsing picture books at the library. It’s always amazing to see how many books there are, check out different illustration styles, and touch the pages.
We frequently check out 20 or more books each week.
It’s hard to treat digital picture books the same way . . . but they can still be a lot of fun!
Most of the time, we use digital picture books when we are traveling. They save space, and it’s easy to snag a new book when kids finish reading one. With a tablet, Kindle reader, or even a laptop, you can carry dozens of books along, and they all fit into a backpack!
Even when we aren’t traveling, however, I like to check out new authors through their digital books.
So, even if you usually read children’s books in print, here’s some digital books to check out on Amazon for Read an Ebook Week!
They’re all from Indie authors I’ve “met” online, and I’ve focused on ones with an international story. Many of them also offer SEL themes.
Kindle Books & Kindle Unlimited
(This post includes affiliate links. I am an Amazon affiliate and earn a small commission for purchases made through these links. There is no extra cost to use these links.)
If you want to avoid shopping on Amazon, I suggest checking Bookshop or your local bookstores instead.
Since these books are from Indie authors, many of these books are available on Kindle Unlimited!
If you have a subscription, you can read them for free, almost like checking them out from the library. If you don’t have Kindle Unlimited, Amazon offers a 30-day free trial for new subscribers.
You don’t need to have a Kindle device to read them, though. Amazon offers apps for most devices, as well as instructions for downloading and installing them.
Note: these links will be for Amazon(dot)com, the site for United States customers.
If your Amazon account is registered in a different country, you may see a notice that the book is unavailable. You should be able to find it, though, by switching to your own country’s site and looking for the book there.
So, it’s time to get started reading!
The Picture Books
The Mango Seed Doll by Karlene Froling – when a mango is picked, she wonders what she will become. This is a story about dealing with bullying and learning to be confident with who we are. There’s also a Spanish version! La Muneca Hecha De Una Semilla De Mango
Lulu and Lainey – the Lucky Day by Lois Petren- A springtime outing to the Luxembourg Garden with Grand-mère. An adventure. Suspense. And a fun story about knitting. This book is part of a series about Lulu and her childhood in France.
Princess for a Day: A Book About Kindness by Pragya Tomar – Little Elephant Bina Trunk gets to be a princess! But how will that change her and her friendships? This Social Emotional Learning book offers a charming Indian vibe to complement the important lesson about kindness.
Omar, el Jaguar by Andrea Olatunji – Can Omar learn to make friends? This bilingual book introduces kids to the rainforests of Latin America while also introducing kids to easy Spanish words.
Save the Land by Bethany Stahl – did you know that there’s a project to replant trees along the Sahara desert? This book explains how the Great Green Wall can keep the desert from expanding. Be sure to check out the other books in this series to find other ways kids can help different ecosystems.
Aye-Aye Gets Lucky by Terri Tatchell – Aye-Aye likes to play pranks. But do the villages enjoy his pranks? This book is part of the Endangered and Misunderstood series which introduces kids to unusual animals around the world.
The Jungle of Jojee by Amy McMahon – can one extremely mopey dinosaur learn to be happy again? Okay, dinosaurs aren’t exactly “international/cultural stories” like the other books in this list! But it’s a great story about helping others, making friends, and finding happiness. My kids love reading it as well as listening to the audio book, so I wanted to include it in this list.
Other eBook Suggestions
I’ve only highlighted a few books here, but many Indie authors offer eBooks through Kindle Unlimited. This can be a great way to check out a new author if you haven’t read their work before, or to preview a book before buying a copy for your kids.
Many of my own books are available through Kindle Unlimited as well.
While Kindle Unlimited does have a monthly fee, many libraries offer access to eBooks through Libby, Hoopla or other apps. As my kids have gotten older, these apps have allowed them to race through graphic novel series and chapter books without waiting for our next library trip.
(Amazon does offer a 30-day free trial for new subscribers, if you want to test it out.)
So, whether print or eBook–are you ready to check out some new books?
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