Finding the Best Books for Kids
Expert Advice for Parents Selecting Fiction, Nonfiction and More
Jul 2, 2009
Visiting a bookstore without knowledge of the best books for young readers can be a lost opportunity. There’s a big temptation to choose books by their packaging, which can distract a buyer from a book's content. The savvy shopper does research before setting out to make a purchase. Here are a few places to look for help.
Sources Close to Home
Within the community setting, a child’s classroom teacher can suggest books written at the appropriate grade level that are almost sure to please. After all, teachers observe individual children on a daily basis and know their interests and abilities. They also know how important it is to get the right book to the right child at the right time in order to jump-start a life-long reading habit.
The local children’s librarian is a powerhouse of wisdom, too. Librarians help children select books every day. Many prepare lists of titles in different interest areas and make them available to help parents zero in on the right choices. In some research questionnaires, adults have attributed their love for reading to a librarian who knew them well enough to recommend just the right book.
Sources on the Internet
The Internet can be a book buyer’s best friends. At any time of day or night, Internet sites yield information prepared by knowledgeable personnel that helps in the book selection process. The following sites are some of the best to promote literacy.
The International Reading Association (IRA) publishes lists of recommended titles each year. Professionals, consisting of teachers, librarians and reading specialists in different geographic regions, evaluate books donated by North American publishers and compile their findings. The lists are available on the IRA web site under the heading “booklists”. “Teachers Choices” includes selected books that tie in with the curriculum. They are leveled into categories as “primary winners”, “intermediate winners”, and “advanced winners”.
Another IRA resource titled “Children’s Choices”, co-sponsored by the Children’s Book Council (CBC), is available on the same web site. Each year about 10,000 children, ages 5-13 from different parts of the United States, read and vote for their top 100 favorite books. The Children’s Choices booklist divides titles into three grade level categories: Grades K-2, Grades 3-4, and Grades 5-6.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC), is a powerhouse of information. The staff publishes a lists of “great new books for children” and “outstanding and award winning books for children,” divided into grade level groupings. The center also publishes book lists in other categories, too.
Although there are many other book selection sources, these reflect information and suggestions from personnel educated to provide quality literature. There are thousands of books published each year. Parents may want to narrow their choices to ensure that children are exposed to the best the publishing world has to offer.
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