Best Books for Children
What are the best books for children? Because every child is unique, you have to pick the best childrens books for YOUR child. Looking for a childrens book in a bookstore can be overwhelming! So many books, so many subjects and so much stimulation! Should you go for the best selling childrens books? What about reading levels? How do you really know which book is best for your child? Finding the best children's books can be a lot more difficult than it first looks. But there are some tricks to finding books that will get kids reading. And the secret is not just knowing your child's reading level. Use the following tips to greatly simplify the process of finding the best books for kids.
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The Best Books for Kids
The process of looking for the best childrens books is really not as hard as it seems. In fact, there are eight characteristics that make kids think that books are fun! - Humor - Humor is the number one reason that a reluctant reader is drawn to a book. Just like us, kids like books that make them laugh. When a book is fun, a child will want to read it over and over.
- Well Defined Characters - Children like to identify with the characters in a book. A good character should have both strengths and weaknesses—just like us! Examples of good character development are the wizard in Harry Potter, Pooh in Winnie the Pooh and the Grinch in How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
- Fast Pace - The plot moves along quickly in a good childrens book. Many children just don't have the patience to wade through long descriptive passages. The story should start moving on PAGE 1.
- Short Chapters - Beginning readers and struggling readers need to experience the success of getting through a chapter quickly. Each chapter should have one clear event. The best books for children have concise chapters.
- Reading Level - A book should challenge your child without being too difficult. You may have to experiment a bit with this one. And, of course, as your child reads better, his reading level will increase. Childrens books list a reading level on the book jacket. Use this to get started.
- Kid Relevance - The issues raised in a book should be important and relevant to your child. They should be interesting to children his age. The best books for kids are books that kids LIKE.
- Pictures and Photos - The illustrations or photos should be pleasing to your child. You might be surprised to learn that children develop a sense of artistic appreciation when they are very young. And, just like us, artistic taste varies from child to child. The pictures should reflect the content of the story.
- Nonfiction Should be Interesting - One reason that so many adults don't read nonfiction books is because they find them to be boring. Best selling childrens books for nonfiction all have a unique presentation. They may be funny, they may have a lively writing style or they may be presented from a different perspective (i.e. A dog who gives you a tour of a city—from his perspective).
More on Best Books to Read
So, if you are looking for some suggestions on where to get started, here are some articles that give you ideas for the best books for children. Many of these books are very popular and the articles include a number of best selling childrens books: |
