Choosing Children's Books

"If kids are entertained by two letters, imagine the funfrom everyday use and often moving from easy to
they'll have with twenty-six. Open your child'sdifficult reading levels.
imagination. Open a book." ~ Author Unknown- There are a wide range of books available to
Looking at picture books or reading story books canchildren at this stage. Fiction books inspire imagination
bring a child immense pleasure as well as contribute toand creative thinking. Also information books on a
their development. It is never too early to introducewhole range of topics are also available. Choose
children to books. Below are some tips to considerbooks that encourage their interests and satisfy their
when choosing books that are age-appropriate.curiosity about the world around them.
Babies and ToddlersOlder Children (9-12 years and older)
- Very young children are stimulated and interested by- Choose books with the child in mind. Suggest books
brightly coloured pictures of simple objects and shapes.that reflect their interests and tastes.
- Board books and cloth books have the advantage of- Age level and suitability is often indicated on the book
being hardwearing.jacket. This is a good guideline. But if your child needs
- They respond well to books that have tactilethe challenge do not be afraid to buy books that are
elements for example cloth books with differentchildren a little older than your child.
textures and materials.- Children at this age also like to look at well illustrated
- As they become toddlers they start to fine-tunebooks.
listening skills and they respond well to books with- Some children's books have become what you
simple texts and good rhythms.would call `classics`. These types of books should be
- Also wordless books offer visual and mentalpart of a child's library. They have great appeal which
stimulation by allowing the child to use their imaginationis why they are called classics. They can be enjoyed
to create their own stories.also by the family when read out loud together.
Nursery School or Pre-school Children- While classics have their appeal and place in a child's
- Nursery stories and books showing images of thingsreading experience, so do contemporary books dealing
familiar to them are enjoyable to children at this age.with contemporary themes. Again, a child's personality
- They also tend to enjoy stories with themes thatwill determine the kinds of things they are interested in.
mirror their experiences.Storing and displaying books for children is something
- As children at this age develop their ability to readthat needs some thoughts. When they are very young,
simple words, books with more complex text withstoring them in baskets makes them accessible. As
rhythm and repetition become enjoyable to listen tothey get older you may wish to make the best use of
and read.limited space in a bedroom by building shelves. Ensure
- As their co-ordination develops they can have funthat they are at a height that makes the books
with interactive books for instance that move, pop upaccessible. Encouraging children to take care of their
or involving them pressing buttons.books as well of library books is important.
Primary school Years (5-8 years)Encouraging children to put their books away in their
- Bear in mind that very few children learn to readspecial space in their room and keeping shelves tidy is
before they are 5 years old. Most learn at 5 and someall part of them learning respect for books and of
learn a little after. It need not be a cause for concern ifcourse learning to keep their room tidy! Bookends help
your child appears slows at reading in this phase.to keep books tidy. They can be decorated with your
- At this stage children love to read or listen to storieschild's favourite theme or reflecting the theme of the
that have strong storylines and characters and ofchild's room décor.
course pictures that help them to understand what isThere are many resources on the internet that support
happening.you in choosing and storing books for your children.
- If your child has developed a keen interest in readingWith a little thought you can help your child to create a
and likes to read alone, choose books by publishersmagical space filled with books well chosen that will
who produce what are called an `Easy Reader` seriesdelight them over and over again.
style of book. These books have words and themes