How To Choose Books For Young Children
By Rochelle Strauss, Author and Educator

Choosing books for children can sometimes be a daunting task. Is the language suitable to your child’s abilities? Are the content and images appropriate for your child’s interests? Here are a few guidelines to help you out.

General Guidelines

• Choose books that appeal to your children's own interests. If you are unsure, bring them along and have them help choose!


• Look for simple, well developed stories and plots.


• If your child already has some favourite books, look for other books by the same author, illustrator or publisher. Or find books with similar premises or storylines.


• Look for books about familiar objects or events pertaining to your child's own life.


• Experiment with different types of books and different topics.


• Choose books that you like too. Your enthusiasm for a book will make the experience of reading together that much richer.


• Follow the "Five Finger Rule". As you or your child reads a page from a book, have them put a finger on any words they don't understand. The number of fingers used helps indicate the reading level.


• 0-1 fingers-too easy


• 2-3 fingers-just right


• 4-5 fingers-too hard


• Seek the advice of others. Ask friends, family and your children's peers about books that they like. Get to know your local librarians and ask them for guidance. Review book lists and consider award winning books.

• Board and fabric books are easier for little hands and nearly indestructible.


• Rhymes, repetition and predictable text appeal to younger children.


• Concept books help introduce topics such as; letters, numbers, colours and animals.


• Wordless books with bright pictures are visually and mentally stimulating and allow children to create their own stories.

• Select books based on topics that are of interest to your child


• Choose picture books that are visually appealing.


• Stories can range from simple to complex, depending on your child's abilities.


• Books with rhythm and repetition are a great way to introduce more complicated text.


• Pop up and interactive books are very appealing.

• Look for books you can read together as well as books children can read on their own (they may be marked as "early" or "beginner" readers).


• Picture books with slightly more complex stories and more elaborate illustrations.