Kindle a good reader

[adventure_woman]

(the search function is not working so here it goes...)

My DD7 reads too much (what a problem I know !) I can't keep her in library books - so I am thinking it might be really helpful to get her an e-reader.

I was looking at the Kindle Fire HD - it is $130 at Best Buy (I really don't want to spend a LOT).

Are checking books difficult? Currently I do not have Amazon Prime. And, if I can only check out a couple at one site, that won't work very well because she reads about 2-3 books a day (depending on the size of the book of course...)

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

If you just want an ereader, why buy a Fire? You can get a basic Kindle for $69.00.

Go here and start reading:

https://kindle.amazon.com/

http://www.amazon.com/kindle-store-ebooks-newspapers-blogs/b?node=133141011

If you don't have Prime, you can't borrow books from Amazon. You'd have to check with your local library to see if they loan Kindle books.

You can download books for free which are in the public domain.

If your daughter reads 2-3 books a day, she needs to move to more challenging books. Good for her!

 

[automaticsoap]

I agree with the PP recommendation for the basic Kindle. Since it doesn't have backlighting like a computer, it's much easier on the eyes to read for long periods of time.

Definitely check with your local public library -- many have large selections of ebooks available to check out through an easy online process. Also, subscribe to Amazon's daily deals emails!

 

[ardig123]

I agree...go with the basic $69 kindle. The kindle fire is not the easiest thing to read on. If you are looking for a tablet it is great for apps, movies, music, etc., but as far as a reader the basic would be perfect. We have a Fire and 2 ipads and I still use the basic kindle to read.

As far as checking out library books...if you library offers them it is super easy to do. You just have to log into your library site, check out digital books, confirm the checkout through your amazon site and they automatically load to your kindle. I would check your library first...not all libraries offer digital books and the kids selections can be limited.

 

[wiigirl]

I agree with the PP recommendation for the basic Kindle. Since it doesn't have backlighting like a computer, it's much easier on the eyes to read for long periods of time.

Definitely check with your local public library -- many have large selections of ebooks available to check out through an easy online process. Also, subscribe to Amazon's daily deals emails!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

DS8 has been reading on the Kindle (old style as described above) for the past year. It has saved me a fortune, plus I don't have to make constant trips to the library.

We have library cards at 2 local libraries, and between the two of them, we have no shortage of books. Sometimes we have to get on a waiting list, but usually our time comes up within a week.

Picture books do not usually work on the old-style kindle, but if your child has moved into the little chapter books that just have black-and-white illustrations, it is perfect. We went through I don't know how many Magic Treehouse books last year.

Here's a tip--if the due date is approaching, turn off the wi-fi until she finishes reading.

I have had Prime, but the lending library is not great--limited titles and only one per month allowed.

 

[JeremyGNJ]

Standard Kindle is WAY nicer to read on!!!

Better still, they cant get wrapped up in game on it!

 

[ejmdoesn]

I have a Kindle, and it has been great. I have over 700 books on mine, and have only paid for a few of them. pixelofink.com is a great site, it lists free books from Amazon each day, and they show up on your newsfeed if you are on facebook. Book Bub is another site that lists free books from Amazon. You can also do a search on Amazon for free books, there are a lot of them on there. My local library also has a kindle book lending library, you can borrow books to your kindle very easily.

I would recommend a Kindle Paperwhite, it is back lit, and can be read in the dark or bright sunlight, I also have a Kindle Fire, but much prefer reading on the basic Kindle.

 

[adventure_woman]

Hmmmm.... You all have given me something to think about. Part of my thinking in the Fire too was that my little DD3 could play games on it while waiting at activities/etc. But if the other ones are that much easier to read on, maybe not!

 

[Darcy03231]

I'm an avid reader and started out on a Sony (similar to the original Kindle). Sony has stopped producing readers for the US market so I moved on to the Kindle and bought the Fire. Honestly, I really don't like reading on it. I find its really hard on the eyes for someone that reads a lot and it's almost impossible to read on it when your sitting outside in the sun. I'm thinking of giving the Fire to my niece and getting a Kindle Paperwhite for myself.

 

[vacationer1954]

We're big fans of the Paperwhite. It's far superior than the standard Kindle or the Kindle Fire for reading.

 

[adventure_woman]

The 2GB PaperWhite has sufficient storage space too?

 

[crisi]

I have a paperwhite (had the traditional Kindle and it lasted years) and love it. My daughter is an avid reader and has one as well - she's 14. BUT....

Around here libraries do NOT have sufficient digital copies. Publishers sell the digital copies just like books, and they are limited. I've found very little I want to read that is free or lendable. My daughter is more challenged, since she wants to read the most current young adult novels at release (or shortly thereafter).

If she is reading two books a day, she is reading below her level. She needs to start moving to more challenging books. A whole world will open up then (and you'll make fewer trips to the library). Even if she doesn't start now, shortly she will be into 600 page novels, and is only going to be getting through a book a day when there is no school. My first Kindle lasted six years - her reading habits will change drastically in the next year or so. And once you are down to two or three a week, it isn't the challenge that it is when the chapter books can be devoured in a few hours.

Kindle books don't lend well. My daughters friends are a group of readers and buying and passing around the books is part of the deal. Maggie owns all of the Hunger Games series to loan, Lilly owns all the Divergent books - that sort of thing. So my daughter prefers her books purchased to take part in the sharing (and frankly, to hold up her end of the sharing, or she is borrowing them from friends. Some also get checked out from the school library.

 

[msmama]

Prime only allows one book per month for free. And I'm not sure of the kids choices. If you want to save money then definitely make sure you can get them from your library.

Is she reading mostly picture books? While I am a huge fan of the plain kindle, if it's for picture books, I would want color pictures and therefore go with the fire. Chapter books with fewer pictures (or pictures only in black and white) I'd definitely suggest the plain kindle.

 

[Lionqueen2]

Another vote for the paperwhite which I find far superior to tablets for those who do a lot of reading. It is much easier on the eyes.

 

[adventure_woman]

All her books are regular books. To give you an idea, She has read all the AG books several times (usually takes her 1-2 hrs on those). We're going to start on Kingdom Keepers to see how that goes.

 

[crisi]

All her books are regular books. To give you an idea, She has read all the AG books several times (usually takes her 1-2 hrs on those). We're going to start on Kingdom Keepers to see how that goes.

If she likes the AG books, try Betsy Tacy (a little obscure and goes in and out of print - but an easier read than the Little House or Anne of Green Gables books - and historical fiction). She might be almost ready for the Shannon Hale stuff. And the E.D. Baker stuff was very popular with my daughter at that age. She'll move through them a little slower.

The AG books, the Junie B. Joneses and Magic Treehouses are great books for kids who don't really read well yet. But yeah, I don't think they even lasted my daughter an hour - and most of the "readers" I know didn't spend long in that beginning chapter book stage - maybe a few months - before hopping into more weighty books (page length, not material content).

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

You might want to delay your purchase for a bit; it's rumored that Amazon is going to release a new Kindle soon.

 

[adventure_woman]

If she likes the AG books, try Betsy Tacy (a little obscure and goes in and out of print - but an easier read than the Little House or Anne of Green Gables books - and historical fiction). She might be almost ready for the Shannon Hale stuff. And the E.D. Baker stuff was very popular with my daughter at that age. She'll move through them a little slower.

The AG books, the Junie B. Joneses and Magic Treehouses are great books for kids who don't really read well yet. But yeah, I don't think they even lasted my daughter an hour - and most of the "readers" I know didn't spend long in that beginning chapter book stage - maybe a few months - before hopping into more weighty books (page length, not material content).

Thanks for the suggestions - we'll try those. She has read a couple of E.D.Baker's books.

 

[jeaneg]

Another vote for the Paperwhite or basic Kindle. My son (9), who is also a voracious reader, has been allowed to take his basic Kindle to school to read since first grade. He would not have been allowed to take the Kindle Fire because of the games. The Prime library has very little that interests my son. Our library does have a lot of great ebooks, and we have a reciprocal card with a neighboring library system for even more choices.

Just a warning... The most recent Kingdom Keeper book is pretty dark. My son was pretty upset by the ending. Some of the earlier books are a bit scary as well.