Kidsmomo: What It Was and Better Ways to Get Kids Reading Now

Kidsmomo was a children's book website built to make reading feel fun rather than like homework. It launched in 2009, created by two children's book fans, and was aimed at kids roughly 8 to 13. Parents liked it because it was positive, book-focused and didn't require kids to sign up just to browse.

The site is no longer running. Its old web address now points to something completely unrelated, so please don't send kids looking for it. Below we look at what Kidsmomo did well and how to get the same benefits from safe, current resources.

What Kidsmomo offered

Kidsmomo's approach was to treat kids as readers with real opinions. It included:

• Weekly themes that grouped books around a topic, making it easy to find "the next one."
• Book recommendations with a friendly, non-academic tone.
• Kid-written reviews, where young readers could post their thoughts and rate books, and other kids could comment.
• Podcasts with book picks.
• A blog covering children's book news.

The big idea was peer recommendation. Kids are far more likely to pick up a book a friend raves about than one an adult assigns, and Kidsmomo gave them a place to hear from other young readers.

A note about old kids' websites

Kidsmomo is a good example of something parents should know: when a website shuts down, its domain name can be bought by someone else and turned into anything, including spam, gambling or adult sites. Old bookmarks, school resource lists and printed handouts can quietly lead kids to places you'd never choose.

What to do:

1. Clear out old bookmarks on shared family devices once a year.
2. If a school or library list includes a site you haven't seen in a while, check it yourself first.
3. Use web filtering on kids' devices. On an iPhone or iPad, Screen Time can limit adult websites or allow only approved sites. Our guide to kid-safe browsers covers more options.

Where to find the Kidsmomo experience now

Your public library (free)

The single best reading resource for most families is still the local library, and it's now available on a phone or tablet:

• Libby lets library card holders borrow ebooks and audiobooks for free, including a large children's and teen collection, depending on your library.
• Sora is built for students, and many schools use it to give kids access to school and public library ebooks.
• Children's librarians are the best recommendation engine there is. Ask them what kids your child's age are reading right now.

Many libraries also run reading challenges, book clubs and summer reading programs, which provide the community feel Kidsmomo was going for, in person.

Book talk at home

Kidsmomo's peer reviews worked because kids got to be the expert. You can recreate that:

• Ask your child to "sell" you a book they loved in one minute.
• Keep a family reading log or shelf where everyone adds a one-line review.
• Let kids pick the family audiobook for car trips.
• Read the same book as your child and talk about it, no quizzes allowed.

Online book communities for older kids

Teens often find book recommendations on social media, especially in "BookTok" videos on TikTok and in bookstagram accounts on Instagram. Those communities can be wonderful for enthusiasm, but they're on general-audience platforms with all the usual risks, and some popular titles are written for adults. If your teen is getting recommendations there, check that their account settings are age-appropriate and talk about how to judge whether a book is right for them. Our parent's guide to Instagram explains the key settings.

For under-13s, stick with library apps, school platforms and recommendations from teachers and librarians rather than social media.

Tips for getting reluctant readers going

1. Let them choose. Graphic novels, joke books, sports biographies and comics all count as reading.
2. Try audiobooks. Listening builds vocabulary and stamina, and many kids follow along in a print copy.
3. Find a series. Once a child likes one book in a series, the next few are easy.
4. Connect to their interests. A child into Minecraft, horses or space will read about Minecraft, horses or space.
5. Make a reading spot. A cozy corner without screens nearby helps.
6. Model it. Kids who see adults reading for pleasure are more likely to do it themselves.

Balancing reading and screens

E-readers and tablets can be great for reading, but a tablet full of games competes with every book on it. Some options:

• A dedicated e-reader has fewer distractions than a tablet.
• On a tablet, a child profile can show only books and reading apps during set times.
• Set a passcode so kids can't wander off into other apps. Our guide on setting a passcode on your e-reader or tablet walks through it.

Looking for more ideas? Our list of free, fun educational apps has other places to start.

The bottom line

• Kidsmomo was a friendly children's book site that no longer exists; its old address now leads to an unrelated site.
• Clean up old bookmarks and use web filtering so kids don't stumble onto repurposed domains.
• Your public library, through apps like Libby and Sora, is the best free replacement.
• Peer recommendations still work: book talk at home, library clubs and reading challenges.
• For teens on BookTok or bookstagram, check their settings and talk about age-appropriate choices.