Books allow readers to learn about the world in ways they can relate to. Young readers will connect with books that mirror their own experiences.
“A great children’s book makes readers feel seen and understood,” says Maciel. “In fact, I think that’s what makes a book great for all ages.”
Maciel says her son was captivated by characters Nate the Great and Junie B. Jones from an early age, in part because of their “tremendous presence.”
“First-person stories can be especially compelling,” Maciel says. “It’s entertaining as well as reassuring to watch these characters navigate their worlds with creativity, courage, and dignity. And the laughs along the way make them that much more fun and realistic — we all have struggles, but we all need to laugh, too.”
Foley agrees that it helps if a child can see themselves in what they’re reading.
“The biggest thing that makes a great children's book is if a child can see themselves as well as others in the book,” she says.
As a parent, you have the opportunity to gauge your child’s interests as they evolve during their early days as readers, and guide them toward reading material you think they’ll enjoy.
Content that invites introspection may be a core characteristic of the best books for kids, but Foley admits a catchy cover doesn’t hurt.
“I do think the cover plays a big part — it's what piques the child's interest first,” she says.
If your child isn’t picking books off the shelves themselves, try rearranging the titles so the covers face your child (rather than the spines). A book’s cover, illustrations, and even typeface are considerations that may mean the difference between a child choosing to give a book a go versus putting it back on the shelf.
“Older students who may not love reading tend to shy away from books with a lot of text, so font and spacing does play a role in what children choose to read,” Foley says.
When it comes to finding the best books for kids, Scholastic editor Maciel prioritizes reading for enjoyment above anything else — especially reading according to age or grade level.
“Every now and then I overhear a parent tell their child, ‘That book is too young for you,’ and I cringe,” she says. “Reading for enjoyment always has to come first.”
Children who choose books above or below their reading level may be seeking different degrees of adventure or comfort.
“A ‘younger’ book can be a reassuring friend, just as an ‘older’ book can offer a safe place to explore new ideas before the real world can force them on us,” Maciel says.
Whatever the reading level, when it comes to finding the best books for your child, experimentation is key.
“My best advice would be to keep experimenting — and keep revisiting titles,” Maciel says. “Try reading a chapter together. If your kid wants to keep going, great! If not, put it back on the shelf for a few months.”
Below, Maciel offers a timeline for the types of books parents should include in their family’s reading routine as their child grows:
Age 3-5: “Books you can read together are perfect at this stage,” Maciel says, underscoring the value of bonding with your child during read-aloud time. “This is also a perfect time to read everything else, too.” Reading material that may capture your early reader’s attention includes magazines, newspapers, recipes, and cereal boxes.
Age 6-8: For children entering elementary school, Maciel says humor is the order of the day. “This is a great time to let kids pick out books that make them laugh, even if you don’t think they’re quite as funny as your youngster does.” The Scholastic Kids & Family Reading Report indicates humor is the top characteristic children look for in books. Funny books can be therapeutic, empowering, and even “make teaching stick.”
Maciel points out that reading together remains important at this age — even if your child has begun to read independently — because they’re still building vocabulary and working on pronunciation. “Read together when you’re both entertained; let them reread that beloved gross-out humor book when you want a break!” she says.
Age 9-12: “This is the sweet spot for series, and for big ideas,” Maciel says. She recommends the Wings of Fire series by Tui T. Sutherland, which combines a fantasy setting with strong characters and humor, and the Front Desk books by Kelly Yang – an award-winning series that explores the day-to-day lives of 10-year-old Mia and her immigrant parents who manage the Calivista Motel.
“Both series tackle social justice in a variety of ways — perfect for readers aged 9 to 12 who are developing a sense of themselves and the world around them,” Maciel says.
Series have also proved popular in Foley’s family, specifically after both daughters started losing interest in reading at around fourth grade.
“I have found with both my daughters that their love of reading seemed to wane between fourth and sixth grade,” Foley says. “With my sixth grader, finding a series that keeps her interest helps continue her love of reading.”
It may take some experimenting with the first book in a series to find the right one for your child, but once they finish one book they love, they’ll want to continue reading to see what happens next.
Foley’s 11-year-old daughter, Caroline, loves The Baby-Sitters Club Graphix novels for the characters and drama.
“The illustrations bring it alive and I like the characters because I can relate to them,” Caroline says.
Foley supports her daughter’s interest in graphic novels. The combination of text and imagery in graphic novels provides context to a story that some readers may not comprehend in text-only novels.
“Not only do readers have to comprehend the pictures, but they also have to digest the text at the same time, and this is a higher-level skill,” says Foley.
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