On 5 August, families will be able to discover an enormous selection of children’s ebooks completely free, thanks to a special event bringing together nearly 200 independent authors.

Free Kids Ebook Day is a wonderful opportunity to fill your digital bookshelves with new stories, meet unfamiliar characters and perhaps discover a few new favourite authors along the way.

A world of stories waiting to be discovered

When most of us look for a new children’s book, it is easy to be drawn towards the familiar titles displayed prominently in shops or recommended by large publishers. Yet beyond those well-known names is a vast and wonderfully varied world of independently published books.

Independent authors create stories about all sorts of characters, families, experiences and adventures. Some books are funny, some reassuring, some educational and some simply whisk children away into an entirely different world.

Because independent authors are free to follow their own ideas, they can also explore subjects that might not otherwise find their way onto the shelves. That means more unusual stories, different perspectives and characters created for children who may not often see themselves—or their experiences—represented in books.

The work behind an independent book

People are sometimes surprised by just how much work goes into producing an independent children’s book.

Writing the story is only the beginning. There are characters to develop, words to refine, illustrations to create, pages to design and countless tiny details to check before the book is ready to meet its readers.

For author-illustrators like me, it can mean many hours spent trying to capture exactly the right expression on a character’s face—or redrawing a pair of paws until they finally look the way they should!

Independent authors also take responsibility for preparing their books for publication and helping readers find them. There is rarely a large team working quietly behind the scenes. Every review, recommendation, social-media share and new reader therefore makes a genuine difference.

A chance to try something new

Free Kids Ebook Day removes one of the biggest barriers to trying an unfamiliar author: the cost.

Families can browse the participating titles, choose the books that appeal to them and download them without having to take a financial chance on somebody new. With so many books included, there should be something for different ages, interests and reading abilities.

Many of the participating ebooks will be free on 5 August, with some authors also making their books available from 4 August. It is worth checking the individual listing and confirming that the price shows as free before downloading.

You may find a bedtime story that becomes part of the family routine, a funny character your child wants to meet again or an adventure that encourages a reluctant reader to try one more chapter.

Supporting independent authors

Downloading a free book may not feel like a form of support, but it absolutely can be.

If your family enjoys one of the books, leaving an honest review helps other readers find it. Following the author, visiting their website or simply recommending the story to another parent can also be enormously valuable.

Best of all, if a child loves the book, they may go on to explore the author’s other stories. That is how small independent books begin to find their place in the world—one reader and one recommendation at a time.

Join Free Kids Ebook Day

Free Kids Ebook Day takes place on 5 August, with nearly 200 independent children’s authors taking part.

Visit:

www.amydoslich.com/free-kids-e-book-day

You can also use the QR code in the image to open the event page on a phone or tablet.

Have a browse, choose some new adventures and give an independent children’s book a chance. You never know what treasure might be waiting among those colourful covers.