My wife and I have subscribed to OurShelves since our daughters were babies, and we have loved the books we have gotten over the last few years. They are high quality books that engage our kids on an age appropriate level. The entire family loves that we see families like ours in some of the books - interracial with same-sex parents. The books about body positivity (e.g. Bodies Are Cool, I Love All Of Me) have really helped guide us as parents for how to have even casual conversations about different bodies and appearances. The representation of different cultures and the introduction to math concepts give our kids so many different topics to engage with and ponder. We regularly recommend OurShelves to friends that are starting families and have even gifted a couple of subscriptions. Consider this an enthusiastic recommendation to everyone who reads this review.

We first received OurShelves as a Christmas gift from Grandma. I had given her this idea as an alternative to more toys to clutter our house. This gift keeps giving year round, and we've asked for it every Christmas since. We LOVE OurShelves! Our home library makes us so happy, because not only do we find books with characters that are like us, but we find so many with characters that are different from us! Those "mirrors" and "windows" have been important to my children's social and emotional development (especially because of precautions and safety measures due to the pandemic). Our family is one mom and one dad, and even though we thought we had been doing a good job explaining that there are all kinds of families, OurShelves helped fill in the gaps. Actually seeing and reading books with different families, people, and cultures, made abstract concepts and ideas of "others in the world" concrete for my children. It even empowered my kindergartener to decide to speak up to her teacher who had been using a greeting that didn't include everyone. After speaking up, her teacher no longer used that greeting and found more inclusive and welcoming ways to start their school day. OurShelves also has wonderful customer service!! Anytime that I've had a question or concern, I was contacted quickly by friendly folks who are passionate about diverse books! Thank you, OurShelves!

We LOVE OurShelves! Our home library makes us so happy, because not only do we find books with characters that are like us, but we find so many with characters that are different from us! Those "mirrors" and "windows" have been important to my children's social and emotional development (especially because of precautions and safety measures due to the pandemic). Our family is one mom and one dad, and even though we thought we had been doing a good job explaining that there are all kinds of families, OurShelves helped fill in the gaps. Actually seeing and reading books with different families, people, and cultures, made abstract concepts and ideas of "others in the world" concrete for my children. It even empowered my kindergartener to decide to speak up to her teacher who had been using a greeting that didn't include everyone. After speaking up, her teacher no longer used that greeting and found more inclusive and welcoming ways to start their school day. OurShelves also has wonderful customer service!! Anytime that I've had a question or concern, I was contacted quickly by friendly folks who are passionate about diverse books! Thank you, OurShelves!

Our granddaughter, who is now three years old, has been receiving OurShelves Diverse Kids Books for the past year and consistently looks forward to each delivery of new books. Her parents love the observations being made by their daughter from the storylines and illustrations in each book and the conversations and questions which the books' inspire. The books allow my granddaughter to be aware of a wide community of people from all walks of life ---- the art of not just good books, but the power of significant literature for young readers.

OurShelves books have opened my 69 year old eyes to the beauty and challenges of the world's diversity. It never occurred to me when I was raising my children that almost every book we read had the same family characteristics - same ethnicity and same two male and female parents. Folktales offered the only diversity. Much has changed in the world, and much hasn't changed but is now out in the open. The books offered by OurShelves give my daughter, son-in-law, and me the opportunity to share a far richer view of the world around us with my 2 1/2 year old grandson. Our first year subscription just ended. When I asked my daughter if I should renew she said' "Absolutely!" You are reading this review because you want to know if OurShelves is worth it. I say, unequivocally, "Absolutely!"

This is an amazing service! I got an annual subscription for my child's preschool last year and they tell me all the time how amazing the books are. Just renewed for another year and honestly I can't imagine any better gift for a school!

We are so grateful my aunt gifted us a subscription to OurShelves! My kids love these books- but maybe more (or at least equally) important, I love them too! i'm thrilled to introduce my kids to a diverse group of stories and authors, and the books are actually good! which is so important when your kids ask you to read the same story for the 1,000th time;) Can't recommend this highly enough!