After researching many different types of bookshelves for kids I settled on this one, and I'm very glad I did. Not to state the obvious, but this is a "display-type" bookcase in which the books face forward. My 18-month-old daughter has a far easier time selecting a book when she can see the front covers than when she can only see the spines -- and from conversations I've had with other parents, it sounds like a lot of kids are the same way. Most bookshelves of this type are either wooden, cardboard, or a wooden frame with fabric slings for shelves. If you want a sturdy bookshelf, wood is the way to go!

Here's what I love about this bookshelf:

1) Did I mention that it's 100% wood? From my experience, cardboard display shelves tend to be pretty flimsy, and the wooden ones with fabric slings tend to cause the books to lean way forward and sometimes even fall out.

2) The shelves have a good depth to them (about 1 3/4"). This is especially important with board books, which tend to be pretty thick. As you can see from one of my photos, you can actually fit two average-thickness board books one behind the other. There are other wooden display shelves out there that are actually too thick for board books!

3) Enormous capacity: Despite this unit not being very tall, it actually has FIVE shelves (most others have only three or four). This means it can hold a huge number of books in a relatively small footprint.

4) The wood is a decent quality; no, it's not mahogany, but it's not pine or balsa either. It is strong enough to withstand a little abuse without being too heavy to move around if needed. It also has smooth edges and slightly rounded corners, making it toddler-safe.

5) Assembly is easy and requires NO additional tools. You simply use the included Allen wrench to install the 18 or so identical screws. Everything fit together nicely and I had no problem lining up the screw holes.

My daughter was so excited about this bookshelf that she actually squealed when she first saw it. And I'm pretty excited not to have her books all over the floor anymore! (I did not squeal, however.)

My only SMALL complaint is a purely aesthetic one: there are screw heads visible on the fronts of all of the shelves. They are all recessed so there's no safety concern, but they are a bit of an eyesore in an otherwise attractive piece of furniture.

Overall I couldn't be happier with this bookshelf and I would buy it again in a heartbeat. Could you spend less money and get a cardboard unit or a wooden one with fabric slings? Certainly, but with this shelf you definitely get what you pay for.

I was extremely hesitant about buying this bookcase. I spent hours researching bookcases and debated back and forth if I should splurge with this product or just get a basic cloth bookcase. At the end of the day, I know my child loves books so I figured, I might as well go all out.

As the owner of this bookshelf for a few months now, I'm a big fan. Its incredibly sturdy and it can fit a ton of books. In our little playroom area, this is the main item that gets the most play. I'm glad I went all in and purchased this. At the end of the day, if it encourages my little one to read more, well then it is did its job.

I will also add, I have a climber and this product is incredibly sturdy!!! The weight distribution of the product is A+!

Got for our nursery and I love it. I can see all the books and grab them easily for story time. Holds a good amount of books and I can't wait for my little man to use it as he grows up.

I purchased this as a display in a used bookstore for 'coffee table' size books. It works wonderfully.

My grandson (1 year old) loves this book shelf. It's the perfect height, sturdy and I don't see that it would ever tip over either. Looks and feels like it will last him many years. Absolutely love it!