Choosing Books for Your Child in Kindergarten Through Grade 2
Build a home library that will feed your new reader's enthusiasm.
"I can read!" Few things will make your child feel as proud as when she's first able to say those words. Readers develop at their own rates, but you can expect to see your child start reading on her own between kindergarten and second grade. As she masters some basic skills, she will have new confidence. It's the perfect time to encourage a lifelong relationship with reading.
Fill your home with books that will support her emerging skills and changing interests. Choose books she'll read with little difficulty and more advanced titles that will help her skills grow.
Parent's Checklist
Developmental Edge
Extending the Fun
Parent's Checklist
Before buying, see how your selection rates by asking yourself:
How does the book look?
Look for easy-to-read books, which usually have less than 50 pages. With an engaging story and both illustrations and text on each page, these books are good for a child who is beyond picture books and too young for chapter books. The recent bestseller If You Take a Mouse to School is a good example. Type should be larger than adult books, and sentences should be short. Look for books where the pages are uncluttered and have plenty of white space. Choose ones where the pictures give clues about the story; this will help your child determine the meaning of words on the page.
Is it the right reading level?
Your child's teacher can tell you what level she is reading at now. An easy way to match your child's skills to the right book is by using sequential readers. These books are labeled "Level 1" or higher on the cover. A Level 1 book is generally for ages 3 to 6. A 3- or 4-year-old will need to have it read to her; by age 5 or 6, she will likely be able to read it to you with little or no assistance. A Level 2 book is usually good for ages 4 to 8, with a 4- or 5-year-old needing more assistance than an older reader. Look for favorites like Clifford Makes a Friend (a Level 1 from the Scholastic Reader series) and Frog and Toad Are Friends (a Level 2 from the I Can Read series). Many books will not have a reading level noted, but by comparing them with ones you know are Level 1 or Level 2, you should be able to determine if they are appropriate.
Is the vocabulary appropriate?
Has your child awed you by using big words when he speaks? Exposure to television, radio, and adult conversation helps some children develop a large oral vocabulary at a young age. While he may use adult words in a conversation, your child's reading skills still need to mature. His books should contain simple vocabulary words that are repeated in the story. Look for books that are entertaining and contain high-frequency words or sight words; these are commonly used words that your child should learn to recognize on sight. The Cat in the Hat was one of the first children's books to make the reading of sight words fun. Dr. Seuss used only about 220 words in his classic story. Today, most easy-to-read books follow this vocabulary style.
Will my child enjoy it?
You know which stories she has loved so far so trust your instincts. Also let her choose some books herself. At this age, she may quickly develop new interests. To encourage her curiosity, try introducing new types of stories or nonfiction books. If she's like many kids her age, funny stories and poems will win her over. Outrageous events, silly words, and pictures that make her laugh will make reading fun. Ask for recommendations from librarians and teachers, and see our experts' recommendations for grades K-2.
Remember to take your own advice: "Don't judge a book by its cover." For children's literature, this means don't assume that a book with gorgeous artwork or written by a celebrity is a quality read. It may not live up to your child's critical taste. Trust books that have received awards like the Newbery, Caldecott, or Coretta Scott King Award.
Developmental Edge
As your child learns to read more words more easily, certain book features will help her sharpen her skills. Use this guide to select the right reads.
- Kindergarten
Rhyming and rhythmic stories like Snow Day by Lynne Plourde make words fun and make your child aware of the sounds in words. These books make extensive use of sight words and repetition, which will help your child to automatically recognize the words in the future. Your kindergartner is probably attracted to stories about things she can relate to (going to school, playing with friends) even if those stories include animals or a fairy tale princess. Owning a book is important. She may want to take her book everywhere, so look for books that are easy to carry. - First Grade
Continue to read different types of poetry with your early reader. It will help him decode words if he knows that they sound alike. While you want to introduce new, challenging books, he will also need to have familiar books that he can read to you with little difficulty. Your child is more likely to want to choose his own new books now. Many first graders are attracted to science and books that answer questions about the world around them. All About Frogs and other books by Jim Arnosky are a great introduction to nature and animals. Even if your child doesn't read these like a regular storybook, he may pour over fascinating pictures. - Second Grade
Start adding more nonfiction titles to your home library. Try books about famous explorers, science topics, and history. Try biographies such as Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Your child will probably not be reading chapter books independently yet, but she might be eager to start. Read these with her, covering a few chapters each day. Try not to break up the story by defining or quizzing her on new words. Make the story enjoyable and she is likely to return to the book when she can read it herself.
- Write stories together. Start out by making fill-in-the-blank stories and have your child supply missing words.
- Talk about what she reads in school — science, history, and other textbooks as well as her reading class books.
- Teach her how we read for information. Introduce maps, recipe books, train schedules, and newspapers.
