How to Choose Just-Right Books for Your Child

Do you recall your favorite dog-eared tale about a far-away kingdom or a backyard adventure? Or the first time you hid a flashlight under the covers because you had to find out how a story ended? Selecting terrific books for your small child will put him on the road to learning, build his vocabulary and object recognition skills, spark his curiosity about the world, and create wonderful memories. As he grows, great book recommendations will help him become passionate about reading and promote school success by developing vocabulary, writing, comprehension, and study skills.

Before buying, see how your selection rates by asking yourself:

• Are these book recommendations age-appropriate?
  Take note of the age guidelines and learning benefits of your selections. For your baby or toddler, board books constructed of sturdy cardboard and wipeable plastic titles make good choices. Older toddlers and preschoolers can handle paper pages and will delight in larger picture and lift-the-flap books that invite them to lose themselves in the story. The best books will grow with your child. For example, you might buy your 5 year old a picture book you read to him. At 6, he's reciting the words to you, and by 8 he's curled up in a corner reading it alone. For an independent reader, select titles that will challenge him without causing too much frustration.
• What will my child learn from these book recommendations?
  Books for babies and preschoolers tend to focus on basic concepts, like ABCs, feelings, or friendship, as well as use repetition, phonics, and other literacy tools to prepare him for reading. For an older child, consider how a book will develop her comprehension and vocabulary, as well as the themes and possibilities she'll learn through reading. 
• Is the subject matter of these book recommendations appealing?
  As a general rule, the younger your child is, the more stories need to speak to his life experiences. As he gets older, fantasy becomes more important. Let his interests guide you, and be creative in your selections. Is he a dinosaur buff? Try a rhyming dinosaur picture book at bedtime, and for solo reading, offer him a nonfiction book about archeological digs.
  
• Will my child find the text and illustrations of these book recommendations appealing?
  This is a gut reaction. In picture books, look for illustrations that catch your eye and familiar characters that will engage her attention. Your choices should invite her to point, touch, and talk about the pictures. Also check for books that sound like they'd be fun to read out loud. If she likes repeating words and phrases aloud, poetry or nonsense stories are a great choice.
  

If you know your older child has enjoyed a particular author, illustrator, or series in the past, go with titles from the same creators. Choosing award-winners will also help you select high quality books.

Developmental Edge

For read-alouds, choose appealing tales that build basic literacy skills. When buying books for independent readers, strike a balance between fun, learning, and challenging. Use our age-by-age guide to different formats and subjects to help you select the right reads. For specific book recommendations, check out our extensive collection of book lists.

• Grades 3 to 5
  Mix fiction and nonfiction that follows her fascinations. Young history buffs can travel back in time with Dear America diaries, and kids curious about how things work will enjoy science adventures aboard the Magic School Bus. If your child is having difficulty making the transition from picture to chapter books, try those with easy-to-read, large-print text and illustrations on each page. Also try series fiction like Harry Potter or the Powerpuff Girls, and humor stories like Captain Underpants.

Extending the Fun

• When reading to your child, talk about the illustrations, storyline, and characters. Read the text and point to each word, bringing the story off the page with a dramatic reading style. Ask him questions about the story and to predict what will happen next.
• Stage a puppet show based on a favorite book with your little one. You can share storytelling and puppeteering duties and put on a performance for the entire family. Don't forget to record it!
• Encourage your child to think of books as entertainment by renting a movie version of a treasured tale or going to see a live performance starring a favorite character.
• Develop your older child's writing skills by asking him to write a short sequel to a beloved chapter book. Challenge him to illustrate the cover!

Here are some basic points to keep in mind as you look at choosing books for young children

Babies and Toddlers

• Very young children are attracted by brightly colored pictures of simple objects.
• They are listeners, and respond well to books with simple texts and good rhythms.
• Wordless books stimulate them both visually and mentally, and encourage them to create their own stories.
• They are delighted with board books and cloth books, which have the virtue of being practically indestructible.

Preschool and Kindergarten

• Mother Goose, nursery stories, and other books depicting familiar objects and experiences are enjoyable to children in this age group.
• These children like listening to slightly complex texts with good rhythm and effective word repetition.
• They are also coordinated enough to have constructive fun with toy-like books that may pop up, move, or provide other astonishments.

Early School Years (Ages 5-8)

• A few children may learn to read before they are in the first grade. Most learn during first grade. Many learn even later.
• For reading to or with children, select picture books with strong storylines and character development.
• For the child who is reading independently, choose a book with a straightforward story employing words that will be familiar from everyday use. Some publishers produce books, generally called “easy readers,” which independent readers often enjoy.
• Third-graders are often able to handle stories of some complexity. The

  vocabulary

  should be relatively familiar while including some challenging words.
• A lot of informational books have been published for the early grades. These non-fiction books encourage children to read about topics that interest them and to satisfy their curiosity about complex subjects.

Older Children (Ages 9 and up)

• Consider who the child is his or her personality traits and personal preferences when choosing a book.
• Make a selection with the child in mind; choose an informational book or a novel in an area of specific interest.

Publishers sometimes indicate on the cover of the book the age level or grade level for which they think that book is most suitable. Don’t hesitate to choose a book that may be suggested for someone older than your child. If a book is beyond a child’s reading ability, it can be read to him or her now, and later on by the child.

It is also possible to find picture books that because of the subject or artwork will be just right for an older child. An interesting story in a beautiful, well-illustrated book offers the child an aesthetic experience to enjoy over and over again.

Some children’s books have become classics. Many have great appeal and should be a part of everyone’s reading experience, especially if a young reader is at the right age for a classic. Classic stories are often excellent selections for the family to read aloud together. Some children find a contemporary book more appealing than a classic: think of the child’s reading enjoyment and select books that will appeal to that child.

Young people love paperbacks. Reprints of hardcover titles for every reading level are widely available as paperbacks. In addition, there are many children’s books published originally and only in paperback formats. Most paperbacks for children are reasonably priced.

In conclusion, a fine book is not necessarily the most lavish or most expensive book on the shelf. It is a book that is written and designed well. Take more than a few minutes to look at the books read them or passages from them. A book is an unlimited investment in the human mind and spirit. Its selection deserves thoughtful attention.