Children's Book Reviews |
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Walking into the children's section of a bookstore or library can be overwhelming. Shopping for books online can be even harder because there is no sales assistant or librarian to assist you. Aside from subject matter, finding a book that is the appropriate level for your child's age and reading ability can be a challenge. If you are familiar with the basic genres, it can help you make better book choices.
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Picture Books - Parents are usually most comfortable choosing picture books. Picture books are read aloud by parents of young children. As early readers, children often read picture books first. Even with picture books, the word count and level of language sophistication can vary greatly. When you kids are just beginning to read, look for sparse word count and simple language.
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Quick as a Cricket
by Audrey Wood and Don Wood
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Loud Emily
by Alexis O'Neill and Nancy Carpenter
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Chapter Books - Chapter books range from easy-to-read to books of 100 pages. The easy to read books are terrific for emerging readers, and the longer chapter books are for readers who are ready for a full story, and can read independently. |
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Frog and Toad
by Arnold Lobel
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Amber Brown is Not a Crayon
Paula Danzinger
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Middle Grade Novels - For more advanced readers, typically age 8 and up, the middle grade novel offers a more sophisticated storyline, including fully developed characters and subplots. |
Because of Winn-Dixie
by Kate DiCamillo
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Young Adult Novels - This is the category that parents of 'tweens and teens must be cautious about. The writing style and plot lines are can be as sophisticated as adult novels. More recently, the themes of young adult novels have become "edgy" and may not be appropriate for your young reader. If you have a 12 year old who is an advanced reader, you need to be especially diligent. There are some tame young adult books, but some contain content including drug use, sexuality, child abuse, and more. |
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The Uglies
by Scot Westerfeld
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If you need more advice about the right books for your family, check with your child’s teacher or your local librarian. |
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