Kindle Colorsoft For Kids Review By A Parent Of An Avid Reader

My kids love reading, maybe not quite as much as they love video games, but it's a close second. And having a house full of too many books is a problem I'll happily accept. The problem comes with finding new books for them to devour without breaking the bank. Sure, we could visit the library, but searching for overdue library books among the unruly book piles in their rooms is a challenge I'd rather avoid.

My 10-year-old is an artist. He loves reading graphic novels and creating his own. While my eldest has a Kindle, it hasn't made as much sense to buy one for a kid who wants to read in colour. So I was thrilled at the opportunity to test the new Kindle Colorsoft Kids, along with a subscription to Amazon Kids+, which offers unlimited access to thousands of books for kids from three to 12.

First impressions

The unboxing of this device was a big deal in my house. The allure of nearly unlimited children's books was exciting for both my kids, since the Amazon Kids+ Monthly subscription would apply to all the Kindles in the house.

The cover design is lovely and inspiring, while also being calming. It invites kids to curl up with a good book, especially at bedtime. When you open the cover, the Kindle automatically turns on. And while I wouldn't have handed off the device to my kid to set up, it was pretty simple for me to sign in and make an account for him.

We already have an Amazon account, and I had already set up my older son's account so I knew what I was doing, but even the uninitiated should find it straightforward.

The colour display

The first graphic novel he viewed looked vibrant and easy to read without being overstimulating for evening reading. Plus, of course, you can adjust the brightness of the display. You can also change the colour temperature, using warmer light for evening and brighter, cooler (or blue) light for daytime.

Is it exactly like flipping the page of your kid's favourite Dog Man novel? No, but it's a close second. Your kid will always want to collect those hardcover favourites, but they can only re-read the same book so many times (like 50, right?).

Is it child-friendly?

Once the Kindle is set up for your kid, they can easily choose a book and get reading. Preschoolers may need a bit of help at first, but let's be realistic, technology comes second nature for most kiddos.

When it comes to comics or graphic novels, some pages will show the full page at once, while others use Panel View, which zooms in on each frame as you tap through. It’s great for smaller text or busy layouts, though it can be a little annoying if your kid prefers seeing the whole page at once. Whether this happens depends on how the comic was formatted by the publisher, not something you can toggle on or off yourself.

Parental controls can help you oversee what your child reads. You can set age and time limits, and require them to ask you before downloading a book. Since my son is 10, I threw caution to the wind and gave him almost full control, and so far, so good. Amazon curates the books available, so your kid shouldn't come across anything inappropriate in the subscription. If they have access to the store at large, however, they could see titles that are beyond their years. So just pay close attention when setting up the parental controls.

My kid has read: Big Nate, Allergic: A Graphic Novel, Tales of an 8-bit Kitten, Laser Moose and Rabbit Boy and The Coldfire Curse (Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly Book 1), among others.

The only hiccup we've had is when we took it on vacation and couldn't connect to the hotel's wifi. If you're going away, download a bunch of books beforehand. The Kindle browser doesn’t always play nicely with hotel login pages.

What makes it different?

• Vibrant colour E Ink display: A first for kids’ Kindles, the colour screen makes comics, picture books and illustrated stories pop, without the harsh glare of a tablet.
• Amazon Kids+ library: Includes thousands of age-appropriate books, audiobooks and learning titles, all curated for children.
• Reading progress tracking: Built-in features encourage kids to hit reading goals and celebrate milestones, subtly gamifying the experience.
• Comfort-focused design: Adaptive front lighting and auto-rotation make reading easy from any angle, whether in bed or on the go.
• Durable, kid-proof build: Lightweight with a soft-touch, rubberized shell that can handle everyday drops and bumps.
• Strong parental controls: Easy content filtering, screen-time limits and progress monitoring help parents stay in control.
• Two-year worry-free guarantee: If it breaks, Amazon replaces it—no questions asked.

Who should—and shouldn’t—buy this eReader?

Best for:

• Parents looking for special occasion gifts for avid readers.
• Parents who don't want their kids reading books on tablets.
• Those who are open to overseeing their children's download requests (or are okay to keep those parental controls off).
• Kids under 12.

Not ideal for:

• Parents on a strict budget who want a more affordable eReader.
• Teenagers. If you have an older child, you can get the original Kindle Colorsoft for slightly less, since they may not need the protective case or Kids+ subscription.

Final verdict: Is it worth the price?

The Kindle Colorsoft for Kids is expensive. Will your kid love it? Probably. Is having access to an almost unlimited supply of books worth it? For the right kid, definitely. This device is like giving your child their own library and letting them loose. (But don't stop visiting real libraries or bookstores. They are still magical places!)

For a special holiday or birthday, this could be a great gift. And keep in mind that the only difference between the kids' Colorsoft and the adult version is the case and the subscription. If you and your child read at different times, you could share this device. You'd only have to sign out of their account and into your own.

Amazon Kindle Colorsoft Kids