The 10 Best Bookshelves For Kids

For toddlers who choose books by their covers, the Humble Crew 4-Tier Sling is a simple, low-cost start. Fabric pockets hold picture books face out on a light wood frame, and the top row sits within a small child's reach. It's light enough to carry from the bedroom to the playroom, and the seller replaces broken parts for 90 days. The slings stretch under heavy hardcovers, and there's no wall strap in the box.

Older kids who read chapter books need plain shelves more than a cover display, and the Delta Children MySize gives them three. It's certified Greenguard Gold for low chemical emissions, and the arched top and cut-out base keep it from looking like office furniture. It stands tall enough that it should be strapped to the wall. Picture books flop over on open shelves without bookends, and the warranty covers parts only.

The SpaceAid 3-Tier Scalloped brings the Montessori look to a nursery: wooden ledges with wavy front edges hold books cover out, low enough for a toddler to browse alone. The closed back keeps books from sliding through, and wood won't sag the way fabric does. Each ledge is shallow, so thick board books and big hardcovers can lean out, and the maker publishes few details beyond size and material.

Built for classrooms, the ECR4Kids 5-Shelf Display uses birch plywood instead of particleboard, and it holds a big library of picture books with every cover showing. The maker says it meets federal children's safety rules and is certified for low chemical emissions. Solid sides and a closed back make it stiff and stable. It's heavy, it takes two adults to put together, and it's a lot to spend for home use.

A reading nook needs a centerpiece, and the Delta Children Tree is one: a green leafy canopy over a pale trunk, with shelves tucked into both. Its finish is certified for low chemical emissions, and the round shelf at the base suits a toddler's favorite books. It's tall and heavy, so anchor it to the wall, and the curved cubbies hold toys and keepsakes better than long rows of books.

Made with fabric spun from recycled plastic bottles, the 3 Sprouts Recycled Fabric rack holds about 35 picture books face out in deep pockets. The cream fabric has a speckled print and wipes clean, per the maker, and the pockets sit at a height kids ages three and up can reach. It can sag under heavy hardcovers, and the light frame can tip if a child pulls hard on the top pocket.

Parents who want anti-tip hardware in the box should look at the Songmics Custos, a white display the maker says holds about 40 books on five sloped tiers. Each tier takes a good stack of hardcovers, the corners are rounded, and the surface wipes clean of crayon and fingerprints. It's made of particleboard and MDF rather than solid wood, and it's a recent design without much track record.

If floor space is tight, the Wallniture Denver ledges put books on the wall, where nothing can tip onto a child. The set comes with four slim shelves, each with a front lip that holds books cover out, plus the wall anchors. You can stagger them at whatever heights suit your child. You'll need a drill and solid anchors or studs, and each ledge holds only a handful of picture books.

Sides cut like jigsaw pieces in pink, lilac and white give the KidKraft Puzzle Piece its playful look, and its three open shelves hold books, baskets and toys. The shelves are deep enough for a basket of dolls beside a row of storybooks, which suits a shared playroom. Its tall, narrow shape makes a wall strap important, and the pastel colors won't suit every room.

Books and toys share one home on the SpaceAid 12-Bin Organizer, a solid pine frame with plastic bins in the middle and open book shelves at each end. The bins slide out, so a toddler can carry a set of blocks to the rug and put it back. The seller includes a wall strap. It's very wide for a small bedroom, and most of its space goes to toys, not books.