Apple Books is a powerful reading platform with a massive catalog, clean interface, and genuinely useful features like reading goals and family sharing. For families who already live in the Apple ecosystem, it's convenient and ad-free.
But here's the problem: the content filters are Swiss cheese. Multiple parents report that even with Screen Time set to 'Clean' or 'PG,' adult books—romance novels, thrillers, self-help with mature themes—still show up in search results and recommendations. Apple's 2025 child account updates help a bit, but the app still lacks a true kids-only storefront.
If you've got a young reader (under 10), you'll need to be hands-on: lock down Screen Time, spot-check their library, and maybe consider a dedicated kids' reading app like Epic for peace of mind. For older kids and teens, Apple Books works well, but a quick conversation about what they're reading is still a good idea.
Reading is one of the best things a kid can do for their brain, empathy, and imagination. Apple Books makes it easy to access a world of stories—just don't assume the guardrails will do all the work for you.



