In our homeschool, we use classic books for literature, history, and sometimes for science. We love to keep hardback copies on our bookshelves of most of our favorite classic books for children, but sometimes it’s hard to find a printed copy. Here’s where the Baldwin Online Children’s Literature Project helps. It’s where I often find the ageless classic books that we read so often in our little school.
Though we don’t follow a homeschooling program perfectly, we do prefer Charlotte Mason’s style of teaching, so I often look at this free Charlotte Mason curriculum and its book lists for reading recommendations.

I’ve found some of our family’s favorite classic books for children like:
- nature studies: The Burgess Bird Book for Children (for nature studies)
- reading poetry aloud: For the Children’s Hour
- science: Madam How and Lady Why
- literature: A Little Princess
Though there is an option to purchase paperback copies of books from the Baldwin Online Children’s Literature Project, it is being highlighted here because each and every book is offered digitally 100% free. Just scroll past the paying option and click on the chapter headings. You can then read the book directly from the screen.
Unlike any other free books sites that I’ve found, on this one you may actually change the font, background color, and much more of the book that you are reading by clicking on “Change the Display Preferences” at the top of each page.
Enjoy reading timeless books with your family at the Baldwin Online Children’s Literature Project.
Is there an easy way to download the entire book? Or, do you have to click on each chapter?
On each chapter, unfortunately. Look at these free public domain books that can be downloaded onto the Kindle (you don’t need a Kindle to read them — you may read them on your PC or other e-reader): https://freelyeducate.com/2016/07/500-free-public-domain-classics-for-your-kindle.html