Research consistently shows that children who have books accessible in their bedroom read more, and having a designated, organised spot for books is part of what makes them accessible. A shelf where a 3-year-old can see the covers and reach any book independently is a very different object from an adult bookshelf where picture books are spine-out and stacked three rows deep.

Front-facing bookshelves are specifically designed for picture books. The books face outward, cover-visible, making selection easy for pre-reading children and toddlers who choose books by their covers. These typically have 2-4 rows of tilted ledges and suit wall mounting or freestanding placement at low height. They're excellent for the picture book years and can often be repurposed as a display shelf once the child moves on to chapter books.

Traditional multi-shelf bookcases with horizontal shelves suit older children with growing chapter book collections. Shelves at 200mm depth work well for most standard children's books; adjustable shelf heights are useful as the collection evolves from large-format picture books to standard-width chapter books and eventually to adult paperbacks.

Combination units that include a shelf section plus a cupboard or drawer provide book storage and toy storage in a single footprint — useful in bedrooms where space is limited. Some include a bench seat at the base, creating a small reading nook.

Safety is especially important for children's furniture. Wall-fix anti-tip brackets are strongly recommended for any bookshelf over 1.2m tall in a child's room. This is particularly important in Australian states subject to seismic activity and for homes with adventurous climbers.

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