Love a Book? Here's How You Can Help an Author (for Free!)

By Jeanette Lerio and Laura Leeson

Jeanette Lerio is the founder of Kids Book Hub. Laura Leeson is a children's author, reviewer, and advocate for connecting great books with young readers.

Our authors have been thrilled to share hundreds of free eBooks with families through Summer Reading Kids Fest. Their greatest joy is connecting great stories with young readers like yours.

Did you know there are three simple, free ways you can support the authors who generously donated their books?

📚 Did You Know?

Many independent children's books receive very few reviews. Even a short review can help another family discover a book they might otherwise never find.

1. Leave a Review

Reviews help readers discover books they'll love and help online bookstores understand who a book is best suited for.

The good news? Reviews don't need to be long. Even 1-3 sentences can make a huge difference.

Tell us who you are.

Are you a parent, grandparent, teacher, librarian, aunt, uncle, or homeschooler? What age child enjoyed the book?

For example:

"I'm a kindergarten teacher, and this book would be perfect for my classroom read-aloud collection."

Share what stood out.

What did you or your child enjoy?

• Was there a favorite character?

• A funny moment?

• A valuable lesson?

• Beautiful illustrations?

Don't worry about writing a formal book report. Just share your experience.

Talk about the impact.

Did the story spark curiosity, meaningful conversations, or new interests?

Maybe a book inspired your child to learn more about animals. Perhaps it started a discussion about kindness, emotions, family, or faith. These moments help other families understand why a book matters.

Reviews don't have to be perfect. They just need to be honest.

**Reviews can be left on Amazon, Goodreads, or other book platforms where the title is listed.

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Not Sure Which Books to Review?

Start with the books your family enjoyed most.

Even reviewing one or two books can make a meaningful difference to an independent author.

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Here are a few examples following the Review Framework:

🟧 Example 1: Parent of a Preschooler

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My 4-year-old daughter absolutely loved this book! We read it together before bedtime, and she asked to read it again the next night. The illustrations were colorful and engaging, and she couldn't stop talking about her favorite character afterward. This is a great choice for preschool and early elementary children.

🟧 Example 2: Homeschool Parent

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I'm a homeschooling mom of three, and this book fit perfectly into our animal unit study. My children enjoyed the story, and it sparked several questions that led us to learn more about the topic together. I especially appreciated how educational information was woven naturally into the story.

🟧 Example 3: Grandparent

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I downloaded this book to read with my grandchildren during a weekend visit. The story was easy to follow, the illustrations were beautiful, and the message led to a wonderful conversation afterward. We all enjoyed it, and I know we’ll read it again.

🟧 Example 4: Mentioning a Specific Character

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

My son immediately connected with the main character because he reminded him of himself. He loved following the character's adventure and was excited to see how the story ended. Books that help children see themselves in the story are always special.

🟧 Example 5: Mentioning the Impact

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

We originally downloaded this book because my daughter loves animals, but it ended up inspiring a whole afternoon of learning. We looked up more information about the animals featured in the story and even checked out additional books from the library. That's the sign of a great children's book!

🟧 Example 6: A Very Short Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Fun story, beautiful illustrations, and a message my kids understood. We enjoyed reading it together and would recommend it to other

families.

Not Sure What to Write?

Try filling in this simple formula:

I’m a __________ (parent, grandparent, teacher, homeschooler, etc.).

My __________ (child/student/grandchild) is __________ years old.

We liked this book because __________.

My favorite part was __________.

I would recommend this book to __________.

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2. Follow and Engage on Social Media

Let's be honest, social media isn't every author's favorite part of the job. Most authors would rather be writing!

But social media helps books reach new families.

Every follow, like, comment, and share tells the platform that people are interested in an author's content. That increases the chances that another family will discover their books.

Even following one or two of your favorite authors can make a meaningful difference.

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3. Request Books at Your Library

Libraries pay attention to patron requests.

Not every library can purchase every book, but librarians do keep track of what families are asking for.

A simple request can:

• Help a library discover a new author.

• Lead to a book being added to the collection.

• Introduce librarians to topics families want more of.

• Sometimes even open the door to author visits and special events.

Many wonderful children's books are discovered because someone took a moment to ask for them.

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We hope these stories have brought smiles, laughter, learning, and meaningful moments to your family.

A review, a follow, or a library request may seem small, but to an independent author, it means the world.

Thank you for helping great books reach more children and families.

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📖 One Review Can Make a Difference

If your family enjoyed a book through Summer Reading Kids Fest, consider taking five minutes to leave a review. It helps authors, future readers, and the entire children's book community.