Did your kid get a Kindle this year? We’re here to help you sort through the zillions of apps and eBooks out there. This list of kid-friendly Kindle apps and eBooks can help you and your kid get started adding some fun activities to his/her Kindle.
A few things to note before you get started:
Consider trying out Amazon FreeTime Unlimited. It gives your kids unlimited access to 8,000 kid-friendly books, movies, TV shows, educational apps, and games and starts at $2.99/month. There are no ads and no in-app purchases. You can sign up for a 30-day free trial to check it out before buying.
In browsing this list, you may be wondering why there are so many paid apps on this list. Well, I’ve had a Kindle Fire for several years now and I’ve found that often times the higher-quality, ad-free apps require you to purchase them. In most cases, they are well worth the money. Of course, there’s no need to run out and spend $50 on apps right from the get-go, but you can make a thoughtful purchase here and there as your kids show the need or interest.
You may also wonder about free eBooks. Again, it’s a matter of quality from my perspective. I’m a sucker for a classic and also would rather have my kids turn the pages of an actual book rather than read an eBook (but that’s just me). Check out your local library as they may have an eBook borrowing service to make it easy-peasy for you to get quality eBooks for free.
The age ranges listed here are really just suggestions. Your kids might like games that are at a different age level; just use your judgment. 
All descriptions below come from Amazon, except where noted. Also, all prices listed here are good as of this initial posting, but Amazon prices often fluctuate so you may find something different when you go to Amazon itself.
Need suggestions for a specific age group? Jump to the appropriate section with one of these links:
Ages 2-4
Ages 5-7
Ages 8-9
Ages 10-12
Ages 13+
AGES 2-4
Apps
Avokiddo ABC Ride: $2.99
Have you ever seen the letter E hatched from an egg? How about a K popping out of a kangaroo’s pouch? Bike with your favorite characters Beck and Bo in this wonderful A – Z alliteration adventure and experience the alphabet like never before!
Sago Mini Ocean Swimmer: FREE
Laugh out loud as you explore a magical underwater world with Fins the fish. Guide Fins through the ocean and discover tons of fun surprises! Dive into sunken treasure, meet mysterious monsters and enjoy a treat at an underwater ice cream stand.
My PlayHome: $2.99
My PlayHome is the original and best dolls house app. Massively interactive, your kids can explore and use everything in the house. The characters eat, sleep, shower, brush their teeth and more. Want the room to be darker? Close the drapes! Fancy a change in music? Pop a different CD into the stereo!
The Cat in the Hat: $3.99
With nothing to do on a cold, cold, wet day when their mother is out, Sally and her brother are visited by that lovable trickster, the Cat in the Hat. As their house gets messier and messier and Thing 1 and Thing 2 come out to play, it’s up to the children to stop the madness, and it’s up to the Cat to make good. Entertaining kids and adults since 1957, this Dr. Seuss classic is now available digitally for your Android device with fun, exclusive features to help your children enjoy reading.
Toca Town: $0.99
Move around in Toca Town! Visit the store to buy groceries, stop by the restaurant to cook lunch, and head home to watch movies with friends. Run over to the park for a picnic or the police station to meet the officers. Cereal for dinner or maybe a quick pillow fight before bed? In Toca Town you decide!
Moo, Baa, La La La!: $3.99
Sandra Boynton’s best-selling book comes alive with sound and movement and gloriously unpredictable interaction. The quirky innovation of the Moo, Baa, La La La! e-book will intrigue and amuse little kids and big people alike, and perhaps even elicit an appreciative snort from the occasional uninvited rhinoceros.
Another Monster at the End of This Book…Starring Grover & Elmo! $3.99
In this interactive version of the best-selling picturebook classic, Grover invents giggle-getting ways to prevent readers from getting closer to a monster hiding at the end of the story. But an ever-curious Elmo asks for your help to tap, swipe and puzzle your way past Grover every time.
PopOut! The Tale of Peter Rabbit: $4.99
The charming, time-honored classic, The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter, is now available on your Android device as the first installment in the PopOut! series of unique interactive digital books. This e-book successfully maintains the endearing quality of the original story while delicately enhancing the details with Android technology. With more than 50 pages of augmented, authentic text and illustrations, it’s sure to captivate audiences, old and new.
Kids ABC Phonics: $1.99
Kids ABC Phonics teaches letter sounds and the basics of blending via its four wonderfully child-friendly sections.
Wheels on the Bus: $0.99
Wheels on the Bus is a fun, interactive musical book, based on the popular children’s song. Come aboard the bus to spin the wheels, open and close the doors, swish the wipers, pop some bubbles, make a dog bark, and much more!
eBooks
Oh, the Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss: $3.99
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.: $4.84
A Bear Called Paddington by Michael Bond: $7.59
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss: $3.99
Corduroy by Don Freeman: $5.70
AGES 5-7
Apps
Fox In Socks – Dr. Seuss: $3.99
Fox in Socks introduces two delightfully funny characters, Fox and Knox, who converse almost entirely in rhythmic and terrific tongue twisters. Together they move through the story and describe each scene with increasingly complex rhymes. Jump in and join the fun, but take it slowly because this book is dangerous for your tongue!
All By Myself – Little Critter: $1.99
In this simple, sweet, and very human picture book, Mercer Mayer’s popular Little Critter shows us all the things he can do by himself. He starts by tying his shoes (almost) and continues by pouring his own juice and spilling just a little! The wry illustrations often point to the fact that Little Critter doesn’t do everything perfectly, but he always makes an effort to do the best he can.
Bugs and Buttons: $2.99
Fun and Educational! Bugs and Buttons is a uniquely styled collection of games and activities that are entertaining and educational.
Where’s My Water?: $0.99
From Common Sense Media: “Where’s My Water? is a casual puzzle game in which players must clear obstructions from a sewer system in order to deliver clean water to the shower of Swampy the Alligator.”
Grimm’s Rapunzel ~ 3D Interactive Pop-up Book: $3.99
Story Toys has taken the Grimm Brothers classic and updated it with modern language, a host of dazzling, fully interactive pop-up scenes, wonderful music, narration and humorous sound effects.
Cut the Rope: $0.59
A mysterious package has arrived, and the little monster inside has only one request… CANDY! Collect gold stars, discover hidden prizes and unlock exciting new levels in this addictively fun, award-winning, physics-based game!
Doodle Fit: $0.99
At first, the object of Doodle Fit seems simple enough. For each level, you must place a set of differently shaped blocks into a given shape. You drag blocks in and out of the shape in search for the layout that covers the whole shape. You cannot flip the blocks around as you do in Tetris, however. A level is complete when all blocks have been used and there’s no more free space in the shape.
Angry Birds: FREE
The survival of the Angry Birds is at stake. Dish out revenge on the green pigs who stole the Birds’ eggs. Use the unique destructive powers of the Angry Birds to lay waste to the pigs’ fortified castles.
Flick Golf: $0.99
No clubs. No rules. Just flick, spin and curve your shots to try and sink that perfect hole in one. Watch out for the usual hazards: bunkers, trees, sand… and of course the wind!
Hoopa City: $2.99
Plan and build in Hoopa City! Combine different materials to build roads, houses, and much, much more with your favorite Hippo from the Dr. Panda games! Can you find the secret combination for each building?
eBooks
The Lorax by Dr. Seuss: $3.99
Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett: $7.99
The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster: $4.99
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl: $1.99
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg: $9.99
AGES 8-9
Apps
The Free Dictionary by Farlex: FREE
Get the power of TheFreeDictionary.com, the world’s most comprehensive dictionary. English, Spanish, French, and 11 other languages, plus Medical, Legal, and other specialty dictionaries, all from the most trusted sources. Translate English into more than 40 languages and access dozens of other translation options.
Flow Free: Bridges: FREE
Connect matching colors with pipe to create a flow. Pair all colors and cover the entire board. Use the new Bridges to cross two pipes and solve each puzzle!
Stack the States: $1.99
As you learn state capitals, shapes, geographic locations, flags and more, you can actually touch, move and drop the animated states anywhere on the screen. Carefully build a stack of states that reaches the checkered line to win each level.
Solitaire Chess: $1.99
Simple to learn and impossible to master, Solitaire Chess by ThinkFun is a new logic puzzle based on the rules of chess. For chess newbies and experts alike, Solitaire Chess is played quickly as every move must be a capture. Early challenges may seem easy, but soon you’ll find yourself in deeper waters, pushing your mind and thinking hard about your moves you need to solve each puzzle. Can you leave just one man standing?
Trainyard: $2.99
Trainyard is a puzzle solving game unlike any that you’ve ever played. It’s easy to learn but very tough to master. Your job is simple: get each train to a goal station. Red trains go to red stations, blue trains go to blue stations, etc. You control the trains by drawing track for them to follow. There isn’t a time limit or even a score; the only thing you need to do is figure out a solution for each puzzle.
Bag It!: FREE
From Common Sense Media: “Bag It! is a family-friendly puzzle game that turns bagging groceries into a Tetris-like challenge.”
Doodle Jump: $0.99
How high can you jump? Journey up a sheet of graph paper, perpetually jumping from one platform to the next, picking up jet packs, avoiding black holes, and blasting baddies with nose balls along the way. Laugh with delight as you blow past other players’ actual score markers scribbled in the margins.
World of Goo: $4.99
Drag and drop living, squirming, talking, globs of goo to build structures, bridges, cannonballs, zeppelins, and giant tongues.
Rayman Fiesta Run: $2.99
Lunge for cocktail umbrellas, leap on limes and punch those piñatas…the sky’s the limit!
BrainPOP Featured Movie: FREE
Watch a different animated movie every day, then test your new knowledge with an interactive quiz. Featured Movie topics tie in to current events, historical milestones and figures, holidays, and more!
eBooks
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis: $1.99
Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls: $4.99
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever by Barbara Robinson: $3.84
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton: $2.50
Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech: $3.99
AGES 10-12
Apps
Duolingo: Learn Languages Free: FREE
Learn Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, and English. Totally fun and 100% free.
The Room Two: $0.99
Follow a trail of cryptic letters from an enigmatic scientist known only as “AS” into a compelling world of mystery and exploration.
Final Fantasy III: $6.99
When darkness falls and the land is robbed of light, four youths are chosen by the crystals to set forth on a journey to save the world.
The Creeps!: FREE
Build towers, earn badges, use flashlights, boomerangs, toy blasters and MORE to stop The Creeps! before they get under Johnny’s bed! Best tower defense game ever. Can YOU beat all the levels?
Mobile Observatory: $6.22
Mobile Observatory is one of the most complete astronomy apps available for Android devices and the perfect tool for anybody interested in the sky’s wonders, from the occasional sky gazer to the passionate amateur astronomer.
Asphalt 7: Heat: $4.99
Drive 60 different cars from the world’s most prestigious manufacturers, like Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin, including the legendary DeLorean.
DragonBox Algebra 12+: $9.99
DragonBox Algebra 12+ is a must-have tool for students so they can earn better grades and gain confidence in algebra and mathematics.
Scribblenauts Remix: $0.99
Let your imagination run wild in this groundbreaking puzzle game. Summon to life a ‘colossal, winged car’ or a ‘shy, frost-breathing, robotic hippopotamus’! If you can think it, you can create it.
Plants vs. Zombies: $0.99
A mob of fun-loving zombies is about to invade your home, and your only defense is an arsenal of 49 zombie-zapping plants. Use peashooters, wall-nuts, cherry bombs and more to slow down, confuse, weaken and mulchify 26 types of zombies before they can reach your front door.
Puzzle Quest 2: $3.99
Escape to a fantasy world filled with amazing creatures, powerful magic, and challenging mini-games! Addicting match 3 gameplay is blended seamlessly with immersive role-playing in this sequel to the award-winning Puzzle Quest!
eBooks
Shiloh by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor: $3.99 – 4.6/516
Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis: $4.99
From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg: $4.99
The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery: $5.70
Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson: $3.99
AGES 13+
Apps
Wanelo: FREE
The best in shopping entertainment. Wanelo (from Want, Need, Love) gives you an endless stream of the best products online, all posted by people like you. Buy everything right away, or save your favorite products to your profile to check them out later.
Evernote: FREE
You’re on the path to something big — Evernote is where you do the work to achieve it. Write notes of all types, from short lists to lengthy research, and access them on any device. Collect web articles, handwritten notes, and photos to keep all the details in one place. Find your work quickly with Evernote’s powerful search.
Plague Inc.: $0.99
Can you infect the world? Plague Inc. is a unique mix of high strategy and terrifyingly realistic simulation. Your pathogen has just infected ‘Patient Zero’. Now you must bring about the end of human history by evolving a deadly, global Plague whilst adapting against everything humanity can do to defend itself.
Jetpack Joyride: FREE
Suit up with a selection of the coolest jetpacks ever made and take to the skies as Barry Steakfries, the lovable hero on a one-way trip to adventure! From the creators of the worldwide phenomenon Fruit Ninja comes the action-packed Jetpack Joyride, Halfbrick’s most anticipated Android game ever!
Scramble With Friends: FREE
Beat the clock and your friends: Scramble With Friends is the fast, fun game of finding words on a jumbled grid! Quickly slide your finger over adjacent letters to form words forwards, backwards, sideways…anyway you can! Challenge a friend to a game or find someone within the Scramble With Friends network.
PicsArt Photo Studio: FREE
PicsArt is a free, Android-only, full-featured photo editor and art community. Packed with more features than in many paid apps, PicsArt has rocketed to become the #1 photo app on Android by combining the best of what Photoshop and Instagram have to offer, all wrapped in an amazingly intuitive and easy-to-use user interface.
You Don’t Know Jack: FREE
This free-to-play mobile version includes hundreds of full episodes of everybody’s favorite quiz show trivia game, with new, topical episodes added every week! And with our new upgrade, ALL episodes are completely free to play – no tokens needed! All told, more than 300 regular, themed, and special guest episodes are available right now.
SoundHound: $5.99
From Common Sense Media: “This music app identifies songs it hears through the device’s mic and displays the name and artist along with a link to purchase.”
Zombie Gunship: $0.99
Zombie Gunship puts you in the gunner seat of a heavily-armed AC-130 ground attack aircraft. Strategically fire your powerful guns to slay endless waves of zombies and protect the remaining survivors of the zombie apocalypse!
Sketchbook Pro: $4.99
Autodesk SketchBook Pro is a professional-grade paint and drawing application. With the same paint engine as the renowned SketchBook Pro apps, it delivers a complete sophisticated set of sketching & painting tools through a streamlined and intuitive user interface.
What other Kindle apps and eBooks (free or paid) do your kids love? Leave a comment and share!