Sharing stories across Aotearoa, one book at a time
Give your books a second chapter
Swap the books you’ve finished, or give them away for free, to kids, grown-ups and book lovers all over the country. Unlike a library, there’s no time limit.
- Free to join
- Free or Swap, book by book
- Parents approve kids’ requests
How it works
From your shelf to theirs in four steps
No fees and no due dates. You and your swap partner sort out postage together.
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Step 1: List your book
Type the title and we’ll look up the cover for you. Check it’s the right one, then mark the book Free or Swap.
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Step 2: Request one you love
Search, or browse a member’s shelf, then send a request. The owner decides whether to accept.
Children 15 and under: a parent approves every request first.
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Step 3: Agree postage in chat
Once the owner accepts, message each other on Bookswap to agree postage and any costs between you.
Children can message once their parent has approved.
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Step 4: Rate the swap
Tell us whether the swap went well, and give your swap partner a thumbs up or a thumbs down.
Made for every reader
Who swaps on Bookswap?
For kids
Outgrown a picture book or finished a series? Pass it on and find your next favourite. A parent sets up your account and says yes to each request.
How Family accounts workFor grown-ups
Clear the shelf without binning a thing. Give books away for free, or swap them for something new to read.
List a bookFor book lovers
Open any member’s profile to see every book they’ve listed, and keep good stories moving from reader to reader.
Browse booksKids and families
Safe swapping for young readers
Children can swap too, with a grown-up in charge. Parents create their children’s accounts and stay involved in every swap.
- Parents create the account
Children 15 and under sign in with a username and password their parent sets up on the Family page.
- Every request needs a yes
When a child asks for a book, we email their parent, who approves or declines it.
- Messaging unlocks after approval
A child can only message the owner once their parent has approved the request. Parents can read their children’s conversations.
- Children arrange postage, with your help
Once you approve a request, your child arranges postage with the other member, with your help.
Trust and safety
- Email-verified accounts
Every account is activated from a link sent to the member’s email address.
- Bot checks
A quick Cloudflare check on sign-up keeps automated accounts out.
- Thumbs up or down
After each swap, members rate their swap partner, so you can see who’s reliable.
- Report a conversation
If something in a chat doesn’t feel right, report it and our team will review it.