This is what screen time should look like: a tool that opens doors rather than traps attention. Kobo is essentially a digital library card with none of the garbage that plagues most apps—no algorithmic rabbit holes, no social comparison, no ads interrupting every chapter.

The Kids mode is solid if you actually turn it on and curate the content. Without that, your 8-year-old could theoretically download anything from the millions of titles available, so don't just hand over the tablet and hope for the best.

The real win here is that it integrates with library systems like Libby, meaning you can borrow books for free rather than buying everything. And the cross-device syncing means reading can happen on the couch, in the car (audiobook mode), or on a dedicated e-reader without losing your place.

If you're trying to build actual reading habits in a world of TikTok and YouTube Shorts, this is one of the better tools in your arsenal.