Are there any kids' book clubs that aren't scams?

[minkajane]

I thought about signing my niece up for a kids' book club for Christmas but I'm not sure where to look. I want something where I can pay for her to get one or two books every month for one year. I'd prefer to just pay everything all at once, then they just send out the books when it's time. I don't want any "Just buy three more books throughout the year!" or "We'll send you books and you send them back or we'll charge you." things. You always end up stuck in the system and paying a lot more than you were planning on.

Is there anything available like I'm thinking of? Or would it be better to just buy books myself and ship them?

[mkksmom]

I'm not sure of book clubs, but my dd enjoys magazines. Highlights (or High 5 for younger ones) is fun.

[LynnS6]

The Cricket Magazines are good and ad free. They have Babybug and Ladybug for the younger set, plus one more I think. There are story-based ones and more sciency ones.

Highlights feels a bit like a scam to me because they have these 'clubs' that send you things every few weeks (more than once a month) and they're quite pricy. Or maybe it was just that my kids weren't that into them.

[Honey693]

My daughter has the preschool version of highlights and loves it. 

[minkajane]

I probably should have mentioned that she's 2 1/2. I'm thinking Babybug Magazine sounds great. She gets the stories and I don't get scammed - win/win! :-D

[4midablemama]

Imagination Library. Totally free, and your niece will get a brand-new book every month right up until her fifth birthday. Started it for my 5 year-old daughter starting when she was about 14 months, and my son when he was about 6 months, and we love it!

 http://www.imaginationlibrary.com/usa/howworks.php

[One_Girl]

It isn't a bookclub really, but you can order books on the Scholastic website and have them sent directly to you.  If your kids are in school or daycare they are probably already getting the fliers home for scholastic.