March 10, 2025

How to Organize Children’s Books: A Guide to Creating a Calm Home Library

Looking for an easy way to organize your children’s books? This guide covers everything from rotating bookshelves to clever storage solutions, creating a calm and tidy space for your little reader.

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A Confession and a Solution: Organizing Children’s Books Without the Clutter

When it comes to organizing children’s books, I have a confession to make: I can’t help but buy new books for my kids. And yet, somehow, the pile keeps growing. Between board books, picture books, first readers and chapter books, we have a collection that would make any librarian proud. But there’s one catch: I don’t want my home to feel like it’s slowly being overtaken by piles of paperbacks and hardcovers. The goal? To create a calm, organized space where the kids (and I!) can easily find the books we want, without the stress of clutter.

In this first part of my “How Do You Organize” series, I’m sharing exactly how I tackle the task of organizing children’s books at home. And, spoiler alert, it’s all about setting up systems that are simple, accessible, and don’t require too much upkeep. Ready? Let’s dive in.

Organizing by Book Type: A Simple Approach

Let’s start with the basics: sorting the books. This is where the magic happens. A well-organized bookshelf should make it easy for your kids to grab what they want without making a mess. Here’s the strategy I swear by: organize by size and category.

Chapter Books & First Readers: These are the books that have longer stories, often with larger text, and are perfect for kids in the early stages of reading. They’re best kept together so your child knows exactly where to look when they want to start a new story.
Picture Books: These books are often full of beautiful illustrations and tend to be a favorite for kids of all ages. Picture books can be a bit larger than chapter books, so they need their own space.
Board Books: Small, durable, and sturdy, board books are essential for toddlers. They’re a bit of a different category since they’re meant for smaller hands and are made to stand up to a bit more wear and tear.
Seasonal Books: Ah, yes, the holiday books. The Christmas-themed books, the summer books, the Halloween stories. These are the ones you don’t want hanging around year-round, but you also don’t want to forget about. More on that later!

What I Use to Organize Books in Our House

Every home has its quirks when it comes to space, and for our house, I’ve found a few book storage solutions that really work. Here are some of my favorite ways to keep our children’s books organized without losing our minds.

1. Rotating Bookshelf for Chapter Books & First Readers

One of my best purchases has been a rotating bookshelf from Guidecraft. It’s the perfect height for my kids to access their chapter books and first reader books. It’s also small enough to fit in a corner and hold a nice selection of books without taking over the entire room. The rotating feature means the kids can see all the options at once, and they love being able to turn the shelf to find something new. I rotate the books seasonally, so there’s always a fresh selection without overloading them with too many options at once.

2. Wall-Mounted Bookshelves for Larger Picture Books

Larger picture books can sometimes get lost on regular bookshelves, especially if they’re mixed in with smaller books. That’s where wall-mounted bookshelves (also known as ledges) come in. These shelves are shallow, so they allow the kids to see the covers of their larger books without them getting buried under a pile. I love how easy it is for them to pull down a book and put it back (or sometimes not put it back—but that’s another story). We use these ledges for our seasonal books, too, so we always have something relevant to the time of year easily accessible.

3. Cube Organizers for Board Books

For the board books, I’ve found that cube organizers work really well. The cubes are the perfect size to store board books vertically, so the kids can flip through them like they would any other book. I have one near the playroom, and it’s great because the kids can easily grab a book when they’re in the mood for a quick read. I also love that the cubes can be closed off when needed, keeping everything neat and tidy, but still easily accessible.

4. Three-Drawer Storage Bins for Seasonal Books in the Attic

If you’re like me and you don’t want your home inundated with Christmas books in July, seasonal book storage is a game-changer. I use three-drawer storage bins to keep seasonal books in the attic, and I pull them out when it’s time to get into the holiday spirit. The drawers make it easy to label and access the books without having to dig through piles of boxes. This system works for books that are specific to holidays or themes we don’t use all year round, like summer beach reads or fall harvest stories.

Seasonal Book Rotation: Keep It Fresh

When it comes to keeping kids engaged with their books, book rotation is key. For seasonal books, I rotate them in and out depending on the time of year. Summer books come out when the weather warms up, and fall and holiday books get pulled down as the season changes. Not only does this keep things fresh, but it also makes it easier to manage the sheer volume of books that seem to multiply every time we visit the library.

Create Easy Access Points for Kids

One of the most important parts of organizing children’s spaces is making sure that the kids can access their books on their own. The goal here is independence. I’ve set up our book storage so that the kids can grab books by themselves, which encourages them to read without needing help. Here are a few tips for creating those easy access points:

Low Shelves: Keep books within easy reach. If the books are too high up, the kids will forget about them or get frustrated trying to find what they want.
Book Baskets: For certain books, like bedtime stories or new reads, use a basket or bin that the kids can pull from themselves. This keeps books from getting buried in stacks but still offers a sense of selection.
Labeled Storage: When it comes to rotating seasonal books, I’ve found that labeling storage bins helps keep everything organized and easy to put away. The kids can even help by sorting books back into their designated bins after reading time.

The Importance of Decluttering: Keeping Your Book Collection Manageable

Every once in a while, I take a good look at our collection and ask myself: “Are we really still reading this?” The truth is, books can accumulate quickly, and not every book is going to be a favorite for years to come. Every few months, I go through the books and ask myself if they still serve a purpose. If a book is falling apart or hasn’t been read in ages, it might be time to donate it to a local library or pass it along to a friend or family member. This helps keep the collection fresh and manageable, and it ensures that every book on the shelf is one that’s truly being enjoyed.

Why Organizing Children’s Books is Worth It

At the end of the day, organizing children’s books is more than just a way to keep your home tidy. It’s about creating a space where your kids can engage with their books easily and without frustration. A well-organized book collection fosters a love of reading and sets the stage for imaginative play. Plus, it makes your home feel calm and intentional, which is exactly what we all need more of these days.

If your book collection is starting to feel a little out of control, now is the perfect time to implement some of these strategies. Whether you use a rotating bookshelf, wall-mounted shelves, or simple storage bins, creating an organized space for your children’s books will make life feel just a little bit calmer. And honestly, that’s what we’re all aiming for, right?

Up Next: Organizing Toys – The Ultimate Challenge!

Now that you know how to organize children’s books, stay tuned for the next installment in our “How Do You Organize” series, where we’ll tackle organizing children’s toys. Because, let’s face it, that’s a whole other challenge! And if your fridge or whiteboard is currently being overtaken by an army of mismatched letter magnets, don’t worry—Part 3 of this series will cover how to organize children’s magnets in a way that keeps them accessible for play while avoiding a scattered mess. Stay tuned!