Amazon US launches subscription service for children's books

Amazon US has launched its first subscription service for physical books - a service called Prime Book Box specialised in children's books.

A new perk only for Prime members, the paid subscription service at $22.99 per box offers children’s hardback books every one, two, or three months to customers that have been selected by Amazon Books editors and endorsed by customer ratings. 

Each box contains a choice of four boards books (for ages two and younger) or two hardcover books (parents can choose from categories for ages 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12). 

Customers receive a monthly email preview of what their box will contain so that they can substitute books for others on a shortlist of alternative selections before it is shipped. They can also skip a month or cancel at any time.

According to Amazon, customers will benefit from a saving of up to 35% off the books' list price with the service providing "the best value on books sold by Amazon.com". (In the event books in a customer's book box are available from Amazon.com for less than $22.99 at the time their order is placed, they will receive the lower price automatically.)

Amazon has yet to comment on plans for the service to be rolled out in the UK.