Choosing the Perfect Book for Your Child

Books can introduce children to different places and different people. They work as an excellent resource to stimulate curiosity, spark imagination, expand vocabulary, and encourage intellectual development.  But how can one choose the right book for a child?

Choosing the right book is very important because whether it is a gift to someone or a tool to keep your child engaged. The books you choose give certain messages, about the child, their personality, and how they can relate to the book. The following tips may be helpful when choosing the right books for young ones to provide a special connection.

Choose books that are easy to relate to

Choose books that are familiar enough so that your child can see themselves in the characters while allowing them to explore new things. For example, Alice in Wonderland is an eternally hilarious book no matter what age you are.

Silly and mischievous children would love the character of the mad hatter and the nonsense jabberwocky poem will have them in fits:

Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.
'Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!

Choose a book that teaches children a lesson

Empathy drives us to read, and by choosing a book for a child which has a lesson about being empathetic can help them experience it too.

‘Why am I Me’ is a wonderful book by Paige Britt that introduces two characters from totally different backgrounds who have the same philosophical questions about themselves. This book teaches ornery children about empathy and how we are all the same.

Choose a book that gives a child an important message

Books often teach us good things without us even realizing it. Whether it is about learning a timeless moral in the ‘boy who cried wolf’ or learning how to accept change for quiet children in ‘how to be a friend’ by Laurie Krasny Brown.  Choose books that subtly teach children important messages.

Choose books that prepares children for changing events

Children love to talk about new things and events that they are excited, or nervous about. For example, if your talkative child is ready to go to school, read him a book about meeting new people and going on new adventures.

If you have a child who is reserved and quiet, find a book about a day in the life of a school-goer and how to make friends. Books that your child can relate to will help him get prepared for new challenges in advance.

Choose books with strong pictures to expand a child’s imagination

For early readers, clear pictures that support the storyline help them understand the story better.  Books with just illustrations are also a great way to expand the child’s imagination.

Wordless books are a terrific way to build listening skills, literacy skills, vocabulary, awareness, and comprehension.  Children can create their own stories in their own words by looking at pictures.  Our favorite picture book is the ‘Lion and the Mouse’. The book teaches a lesson about kindness with stunning illustrations that are emotive and expressive. Perfect for children with all kinds of personalities.