As a parent of two young kids, I’ve accumulated what feels like a zillion children’s books over the years. And let’s be honest: kids’ books take up space. Which is why keeping your collection organized is so important.
In this complete guide, as a professional children’s book printing manufacturer too, I’m going to walk you through my proven system for storing children’s books. From sorting by reading level to creating an easy checkout system, I’ve got you covered.
Why Proper Book Storage Matters
Having an organized book storage system offers a bunch of benefits:
- Kids can find books easily. When kids can see book covers, they’re more likely to pull them off the shelves to read.
- You’ll read more books. Studies show visible books lead to more reading time. And more reading is always a good thing!
- It limits clutter. Books piled in random places around your home = clutter. Proper storage corrals the clutter.
- Checking books in/out is easier. An organized system makes it simple for kids to borrow books and put them back.
- Kids will mimic you. Organizing your kids’ book collection shows them the importance of organizing their possessions.
With the importance of book organization now clear, let’s go step-by-step through how to set up the perfect system.
How to Store Children’s Books
Step 1: Purge Books You Don’t Need
Before organizing your collection, it’s smart to purge books you no longer want. Here are three types of books to remove:
- Outgrown books: Board books with simple content appeal to toddlers. But older kids will find them boring. Donate outgrown books to charity.
- Worn out books: Heavily loved books with ripped pages or covers have lived their useful lives. Recycle them.
- Unused books: Be honest with yourself. If a book hasn’t been touched in over a year, it’s unlikely to get future love. Give it away.
Once you’ve minimized your collection to active books, you can organize what remains.
Step 2: Group Books by Reading Level
A common way to organize children’s books is by reading level. Here’s how:
Board Books
Thick cardboard pages make board books perfect for babies and toddlers. If you have a young child, keep these low to the ground for easy access. A basket or bin allows you to grab books quickly during diaper changes or temper tantrums.
Picture Books
Picture books tell simple stories using mostly illustrations. They work for preschool and early elementary kids. Store them on low shelves to spur independent reading. Group fiction and non-fiction picture books together alphabetically by title.
Early Chapter Books
Also called “transitional books”, these bridge the gap between picture books and longer chapter books. Short chapters and ample illustrations ease kids into more text. Store chapter books together by author’s last name regardless of fiction/nonfiction.
Chapter Books
Once kids read independently, longer chapter books become appealing. Organize this collection alphabetically by the author’s last name to make it easy to find favorite series or writers.
Let’s move onto storage ideas based on your space.
Step 3: Choose Storage Methods That Fit Your Home
Regardless of square footage, you can find creative ways to organize kids’ books. Storage options include:
Floor Shelves
Low shelving is ideal for housing children’s books. Place these bookcases in playrooms, living rooms, bedrooms or even hallways. Make sure shelves are no higher than a child’s waist to enable self-service.
Wall Shelving
Mounted shelves are space-savvy solutions in kids’ rooms, play spaces or nurseries. Floating ledges work for picture and chapter books. Deeper shelves contain board books and early readers. Display books horizontally with covers facing outwards.
Book Bins and Baskets
For family spaces, use decorative book baskets to stow children’s books. The living room, kitchen and family room are all prime real estate. Just be sure to keep bins low and accessible. Tip: Use separate bins for each kid.
Book Carts and Racks
Book carts with casters offer portable storage. Roll these handy units into whatever room the kids play in. Upper shelves organize books while baskets below hold board books, reading accessories like bookmarks or even puppets and toys.
With your storage furniture picked, it’s time to optimize the checkout process.
Step 4: Label Book Storage Areas Clearly
A common organizational mistake? Failing to clearly label — especially book sorting systems that aren’t intuitive.
Kids can’t put books back if they don’t understand your system. Prevent this scenario by using labels like:
- “Board books”
- “Picture books A-M”
- “2nd grade reading level”
- “Nate’s Books”
You can stencil directly onto wood bookcases for a built-in look. For storage baskets, attach removable vinyl tags listing contents. Just remember to label generously to eliminate confusion.
Step 5: Create an Easy Book Check-Out Area
The final element of your new book organization system? Setting up a book check out area.
While checking out books might seem overly formal, it serves an important purpose. Kids learn responsibility by borrowing and returning items. This practice also protects beloved books from getting damaged.
To create a book check-out zone:
- Mark off shelf space near book storage areas or set up a small table or desk. The closer the better in terms of convenience.
- Use library due date cards inside book covers so you can track loans.
- Place a wall pocket or desktop organizer to corral cards for checked-out books.
- Optional: Set up a library calendar for kids use to “reserve” popular titles.
Most importantly, model good behavior by checking out books yourself before reading. This consistent practice cements the importance that books get returned to their proper spots.
Get Reading!
I hope these kid book organization tips inspire you to get your family’s collection in order. Finding perfect homes for all those precious books frees up valuable play space. Plus, it builds literacy by encouraging young readers to immerse themselves in reading.
The bonus? When your book storage system is firing on all cylinders, you might actually have a few moments to flip through a book yourself! Let me know if you have any other suggestions for organizing kids’ books in the comments below.