This article has been republished with permission from Wonder Tools, a newsletter thathelps you discover the most useful sites and apps.register here.
Books offer a welcome alternative to the deluge of negative news and hottakes. Read on for some free sites and apps I recommend for finding and enjoying books this summer, whether you prefer paper or digital.
Use a digital library
Libbyis the most useful library app. It is an update of the old OverDrive, which is now used by libraries in 78 countries and 90% of those in the US. I rely on the app to view free eBooks for my Kindle and the Kindle app on my phone. The Libby app also offers its own e-reader, so you can view and read digital books in the same app.
- Functions: Like a Kindle, you can click on a word in Libby’s eReader to get its definition, or see where in the book a name or phrase appears. You can mark passages you want to return to or share. Libby also has a built-in audiobook player. My family uses it to listen to audiobooks on car trips, although lately we mostly listen to podcasts like the great Business Wars podcast series about theHaagen-Dazs vs. Ben and Jerry’sconflict.
- Bonus Feature:If you’re lucky enough to have cards for multiple libraries, you can use them all with the Libby app without logging out or creating multiple accounts. This way you can easily find out which library has the book you are looking for.
- Constraint:You cannot view physical books with it. You’ll need to use a separate app or your local library’s site for that.
world cattells you which libraries in your area have a particular book. It works in multiple languages ​​and connects to more than 10,000 libraries worldwide. It allows you to search for any format or language, whether you need a book in print, ebook, Braille, audio or any other format.
Kanopy, also owned by OverDrive, offers free access to feature films and documentaries, accessible by logging in with your library card. I love that once you set up an account you can watch on the web or on an iOS or Android device, or on your SmartTV app (Roku, Samsung, Amazon, etc). There is a greatchildren’s sectionwhich has episodes of Sesame Street; video versions of books by Eric Carle, Mo Willems and other great children’s authors; math and science lessons for children; and a variety of age-appropriate short films.
- Constraint: Libraries put limits on how many things you can watch in a month, so don’t expect unlimited viewing with Kanopy.
hooplais an alternative to Libby that works with 3,100 library systems in the US and internationally. Like Libby, it hosts audiobooks and eBooks, as well as bundles in comics, movies, TV shows, magazines, and music. You can view all of that for free on the internet or on your phone or tablet.
Find your next lecture
Story Chartis useful for finding new books to read. Start by selecting your favorite genres. You can also import your reading history fromgood reada book discussion community owned by Amazon.
The first time I used Storygraph, I got several helpful book recommendations. I like that the service highlights many books written between 1995 and 2015, often ignored by contemporary-focused book reviews.
What should I read next? provides an even easier starting point. Type in the name of a book you love and you’ll get a list of about 20 related books. When I recently typed Endurance and Unbroken, two fantastic non-fiction survival adventure books, I got recommendations with some other adventure books and some that were unrelated. It’s easy to browse through them and pick one that looks interesting. The site also has a handyquote search enginewhere you type a few words and a list of famous quotes with those words appears.
The world map from which bookis a fun way to choose a book about a particular part of the world. Pick a spot on a digital globe and you’ll be presented with a list of books to transport you – read through – to that region.
Books for children
sora is actually Libby for kids. Schools use it to make books available to students and kids use it to read ebooks or audiobooks. It’s designed to work well with graphic novels, picture books, and everything else from comic books to textbooks.
Epicis another popular ebook app for kids. I have mixed feelings about it. My youngest daughter’s school provided access to it during the pandemic and it opened up many great nature books. It’s easy to use.
However, the app relies on gamification and extrinsic motivation, employing social media screen enticement tactics to entice kids to repeatedly open the app. I know rewarding children for reading is popular, but it might indicate that books are a chore to finish. Epic’s parent dashboard shows minutes read and completed books as if reading is about volume, speed, and checking things off a list, rather than fun.
Other Useful Reading Apps
bookbubis useful for bargain hunters. It shows discounted and free ebooks. Available as a newsletter or just check the site for offers. That’s how I found out Amanda Ripley is excellentHigh conflictisfree as ebookthis month.
Abebooksis my go-to for buying used books. It is a used bookstore platform and often a cheaper alternative to Amazon. Thecollectionsoffer a digital alternative to walking through stale piles of old paperbacks.
My reading listis where i park titles i look forward to. I use Craft (see mypost why i love it). To create a quick book list,Listyis also useful and has a built-in book search function. Other templates you can use to maintain your own book list:
- Here isa free Notion book tracking templateand called a $34NotionReads.
- Here’s afree book list template for Airtableanda joint.
- get organizedbook collection with a Coda.io template
This article has been republished with permission from Wonder Tools, a newsletter thathelps you discover the most useful sites and apps.register here.