Choosing Age Appropriate Books

Encouraging your kids to be passionate about reading will start at birth, in the event that you learn to choose age-appropriate books. Many publishing houses distinguish children's books by age and attach labels that indicate the ages their books are perfect for. This can be a great first rung on the ladder in narrowing down your alternatives, but there are many other things to consider, especially for teenagers.

Steps:

1. Scan the cover of potential books for a recommended generation. This is particularly ideal for younger audiences, because so many publishers of infant to preschool books will label their books with a suggested generation.

2. Choose board books for babies or infants. These books are produced from a difficult cardboard or plastic-type material and may withstand chewing or rough play. Search for books which are colorful and show large pictures or faces. In most cases, books with paper pages are ideal for children ages 3 and older.

3. Enter a childrens book club.

4. Seek out interactive books if your kids are toddlers. These books will feature flaps to lift, buttons to push, or activities the kids is capable of doing while reading. Many of these activities can further engage children in these books.

5. Review the educational content of the titles you're considering. Books ideal for babies through toddlers should concentrate on core concepts like the alphabet, basic rhyming, emotions, colors, etc. Books for teenagers should contain subjects or characters which are interesting to them, like a favorite animal or character.

6. Choose familiar or favorite authors if you're investing in a book for teenagers. Many authors have books written in a string or similar subject matters or themes, and choosing another title from their collection might be a safe bet.

7. Go through the classics. Look at classic authors.
 *The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame.
 *Just William by Richmal Crompton.
 *The Adventures of Tintin by Hergé.
 *The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.
 *Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling.
 *Little House on the Prairie by Laura-Ingalls Wilder.
 *Tracey Beaker by Jacqueline Wilson.
 *Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
 *Jungle Book by J. M. Barrie.
 *The Famous Five go adventuring again by Enid Blyton.
 *Allan Ahlberg.
 *Roald Dahl.
 *The Chronicles of Narnia by C. S. Lewis.
 *Alex Rider by Anthony Horowitz.

8. Look at bestsellers lists.

9. Purchase award-winning titles in the event that you aren't certain what may be most appealing. Books which have won awards or are noted as best sellers mean they are recognized for his or her quality and content, and you may assume they're good choices.
 *The Red House Children's Book Awards.
 *The Guardian Children's Fiction Prize.
 *The Chicken House Children's Fiction Awards.

10. Select books that cope with issues or situations which are relevant. If the recipients are coping with divorce, new siblings, friends, or other issues, search for titles that discuss similar themes. Consider any major milestones children could be near, such as for example potty training, teething, etiquette, school, etc. Find books that may relate to these circumstances.

11. Buy books that mix imagination with historical or science themes for teenagers. Titles that focus on a real concept, like a historical event or perhaps a scientific fact, and build an imaginary story around it could engage older readers. The fictional story may spark fascination with the concept.

Tips:
 *Don't choose books in line with the recommended generation alone. Children learn at different paces, and could become more or less advanced than their exact age. Make sure to select books which are appropriate for their degree of reading proficiency.
 *When buying books for teenagers and teenagers, also look at the genre. If they can't stand a particular genre, and it's really pretty obvious that the book falls under that genre, they will be less inclined to read it.
 *When looking through potential choices, focus on the pictures along with the words. Will be the images of places, people, or things your readers can connect to? For younger children, search for vibrant colors and pictures of these favorite sights, including animals, trucks, or dolls. For teenagers, choose images that trigger their imagination or catch their interest, such as for example dragons, fairies, princesses, or other similar icons. Choose books with pictures of items your kids enjoy, and you'll have a far greater potential for success.