Handout: Choosing Books


For children aged two and three:

  • choose board books with simple pictures
  • look for clear, bright pictures
  • read nursery rhymes, mother goose, and finger plays
  • talk about the pictures; build vocabulary

For children aged four and five:

  • choose picture books with large print and just a few words on each page.
  • choose books which have predictable words or phrases that the children can enjoy repeating e.g.: he ate five strawberries and he was... "STILL HUNGRY" - Eric Carle
  • use alphabet books, have the children tell you the letters
  • have children point out colours, numbers, shapes and objects

For Children aged six and seven:

  • easy-to-read books
  • funny books
  • rhyming books
  • beautiful books
e.g.: Dr. Seuss
e.g.: Robert Munsch
e.g.: Dennis Lee
e.g.: Ezra Jack Deats, Richardo Keen-Douglas, "Animalia" by Graham Base, "I Spy" by Scholastic

Press For children aged eight and older:

  • picture books with more words and more complex stories
  • fiction and non-fiction
  • riddles and jokes
  • fables
  • volcanoes and earthquakes
  • space and planets
  • "Baby-sitter Club"
  • family stories
  • wild animals
  • dinosaurs
  • bikes, cars and trucks
  • pets
  • sports
  • world records
  • optical illusions and magic tricks
  • world facts and maps

Other Suggestions:

  • have strong female and male characters
  • have characters of all races
  • are relevant to the child's world
  • are fun to read aloud
  • have just a few words per page
  • are Canadian!
  • are the most beautiful, colourful and exciting!

Prepared By: Dave Page, Frontier College, Family Literacy Coordinator


Back Contents Next