10 Things to Consider When Buying Kids and Books

25 Mar.,2024

 

How to Choose the Right Books for Your Kids

If you've ever seen your kids confused by a too-intricate plot, frustrated by words and references they don't understand, or upset after grappling with a scene or a story that was steamier or more violent than they expected, you know how hard it can be to find age-appropriate books. Adding to the challenge is the fact that popular books can sweep through schools and peer groups, so you may find your kids dipping into something you're not sure they're ready for. It's tough to keep your finger on the pulse and make informed decisions when your kids are begging to read something you've never heard of -- or something they insist "everybody is reading."

The publisher's recommended age isn't always helpful. It may reflect marketing decisions more than child-development considerations. There's a wide range of what kids are ready for at different ages; some 8-year-olds love scary stories and can take lots of gore, while others may be disturbed to read about tension, conflict, or loss of any kind.

There truly is a better way. It starts with understanding what content isn't only age-appropriate but also developmentally appropriate for your child. After that, you can determine what's OK based on the things that matter to you, like your kid's interests and individual temperament. What's terrifying to one 7-year-old may be fun and action-packed for another.

Here are some things to consider when you're choosing the right books for your kids:

  • What age is the book aimed at? Sometimes a book's target age group is obvious but broad. For example, the superb coming-of-age bestseller Wonder is targeted to ages 8–12 (per the book jacket), but with its sophisticated themes about the mainstreaming of a boy with facial deformities and the middle school setting, we rated it for age 11 and up. Many younger skilled readers aren't emotionally ready for some of the edgier stories in today's chapter books, with tales of homelessness, alcoholic parents, relatives in jail, parental death or abandonment, cancer, mental illness, natural disasters, and more. And some series get more mature as they go along. Our age ratings for the seven Harry Potter books, for example, vary from 8 and up for series opener Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone to 12 and up for final volume Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Ultimately, you'll need to make a judgment call based on what you think is right for your kid, taking into account many of the factors described in more detail below.
  • Quality. Yes, quality can be subjective -- and certainly your kids will like stuff you don't -- but look for benchmarks. Is it well written, well paced, and well plotted? Are the characters well rounded, or do they rely on one-dimensional stereotypes? Does the book engage kids on a deep level and make them think? Does it open them up to new words and new ideas?
  • Educational value. It's perfectly fine to choose books solely for their entertainment value, but kids can take away a lot from stories with richly detailed settings. Whether it's Victorian London in the steampunk mystery The Dark Unwinding, pirate lore in The Brotherband Chronicles, Greek and Roman mythology in the Percy Jackson series, or farm life in Sarah, Plain and Tall, kids learn more than you think when they're captivated by a good story.
  • Messages and role models. Media messages really do have an impact on kids, so it makes sense to choose books that reflect the kinds of ideals you'd like your children to absorb. Younger kids are more literal and enjoy the direct messages found in picture books -- for example, lessons about friendship, sharing, and empathy. But when older kids dive into middle grade fiction, they'll find messages that are more nuanced, like those in Holes. These provide an opportunity for you to discuss your own views and values. Also, consider the characters. Are they people you'd like your kids to emulate? Are there consequences for their behavior? Are adults present and responsible? Are the characters realistic and relatable -- like the diverse cast of Counting by 7s -- or shallow and stereotypical, as in Dork Diaries?
  • Violence, sex, and language. While books for younger kids don't have graphic violence, sex, or language, many do include cartoon-like violence, crushes and flirting, and name-calling and insults. Books for tweens start getting edgier, with swear words and slurs, violence and gore, teen relationships, and more. For example, The Thickety: A Path Begins is a brilliant witch tale labeled for kids age 8–12 that we gave 5 stars, but with its vivid violence, we aged it for 11 and up. And things get even more intense as you move up the age range, especially the sexual content, with underage sex, teen pregnancy, abortion, and graphic love scenes in some story lines. Common Sense Media offers expert guidelines for the level of violence, sex, and language that's developmentally appropriate for every age, but you may need to make a judgment call for your own child, based on your own values. Don't mind a few F-words? Many tween and teen books have 'em. OK with some epic sci-fi violence? Then give the go-ahead to alien-invasion tale The 5th Wave.
  • Consumerism. Product placement isn't only in movies -- it's in kids' literature too. Sometimes it's appropriately used for scene setting, but sometimes, as in Ghostgirl, it can seem like a never-ending stream of ads. Some teen books are as packed with high-status products as those mentioned in many commercial rap songs (Cristal champagne, Patron tequila, BMW and Mercedes cars, Louis Vuitton bags). Consumerism in a book doesn't disqualify it from being worthwhile, but it's an important aspect to keep in mind and to talk to your kids about. Train them to be on the lookout for it, and they'll learn some valuable media-literacy skills.
  • Drinking, drugs and smoking. The presence of these substances in books is sometimes crucial to the story line (for example, in The House of the Scorpion), essential for historical accuracy (as in The Great Gatsby), or related to a key character trait (as with Captain Haddock in Tintin). But there are plenty of examples of gratuitous drinking, drugs, and smoking (in the Gossip Girl books, for example) being portrayed as humorous and relatively consequence-free. We offer guidelines for what's developmentally appropriate for every age, but you may need to make a final call for your kids based on what amount you're OK with. And any time substance use or abuse comes up, take the opportunity to discuss the issue with your kids.
  • User reviews. Sometimes it takes a village to figure out which books are right for our kids. If you're on the fence, see what other parents -- and even kids -- are saying. Although our user community's ratings are based on personal opinion rather than developmental guidelines, they do rate books using the same tools that our editors do, with icons to flag areas of concern, stars to signal overall quality, and a target age to help you decide.

The bottom line is that it's up to you to do your research, and Common Sense Media makes that easy by providing detailed reviews so you know exactly what to expect. We've done the hard work for you -- you just have to apply it to your family and remember to check the ratings (and read the jacket flap).

Choosing the right book for your child can be difficult – especially if you’re not sure what makes a good children’s book. There are thousands and thousands of children’s books available. But, don’t be fooled, not all kids’ books are created equal. To provide your child with quality reading materials, and help them improve their reading skills, it’s important to know what to look for.


Luckily, there are several key qualities of a good children’s book that are easy to spot. To help you choose the best book for your child, we’ve put together a list of the most important characteristics to look for.


Ready to learn what makes a good children’s book? Let’s go!

Why It’s Important to Know What Makes a Good Children’s Book


You might be asking yourself – why are quality children’s books important?


When you provide your child with quality reading materials, you aid their cognitive development, encourage independent thought, and help them learn about the world in a fun and interesting way. Good books also help young readers gain confidence. As a result of this confidence, children often discover joy and excitement in reading. Thus, a self-motivated reader emerges.


You can promote all of these developmental benefits (and more) simply by knowing what makes a good children’s book. So, let’s take a look at the most important characteristics that you should look for.

10 Characteristics of a Good Children’s Book


When searching for a good book for your child, keep these 10 important characteristics in mind.

1. The Book Reflects Your Child’s Interests


The interests of a child are key to what makes a good children’s book. By choosing a book that your child will find interesting, you can help promote a love of reading. A captivating book will also increase your child’s engagement, helping to develop their reading skills further.


What makes a book appealing to children? Children often enjoy books that reflect the world around them. This includes books that tell a story they can connect to. When children can relate to a story, they are more likely to remember it and comprehend what they are reading.


Want to find books your child will love? Check out Booka! The Booka App allows you and your child to select books based on interests. For example, explore books about nature, animals, shapes and colors, professions, places, science, sports and outdoors, and more!

2. A Good Children’s Book Has Meaningful Illustrations


Illustrations are an important aspect of what makes a good children’s book – especially for young readers. Illustrations help to draw a child in and capture their attention. In addition to helping engage young readers, illustrations can also support the development of reading comprehension.


Look for books that include illustrations that are detailed, colorful, and connect to the story. You might ask yourself, do the illustrations tell the story? If the answer is yes, the book will help your young reader improve their reading comprehension and vocabulary.


Some great examples of children’s books with beautiful and meaningful illustrations include:


Lula’s Brew by Elizabeth Dulemba

Slumber My Darling by Stephen Foster

The Fable of the Bully Dragon by Jeff Dinardo

How To Hug A Cactus by Emily S Smith

3. Interesting and Varied Language is Used Throughout


A good children’s book uses rich and interesting vocabulary. Providing your child with books that offer varied language is essential because these books help to capture their attention. Exposure to new, increasingly sophisticated words and grammatical structures is also beneficial, as it provides an opportunity for valuable learning.


What makes a good children’s book in terms of language and vocabulary? Most importantly, the language in a book should support the flow of the story. In other words, the language should make the storyline easy to follow. It is also important that the language is relatable for your child, but with an element of challenge.


Looking for books for your child that use interesting and varied language? Check out these books written by Ellliot Kreloff:


Worth the Wait

Please Don’t Make Me Fly

4. The Story Includes Relatable Characters


Good children’s books have relatable characters. When a child reads a book with relatable characters, they become more invested and engaged. This leads to greater enjoyment and promotes a love of reading. In addition, relatable characters promote feelings of empowerment and encourage children to create change in the world around them.


When assessing a book for your child, look for characters who encounter real world problems and emotions. For example, loss, failure, success, sadness, fear, joy, and anger.


Here are some examples of great children’s books that include relatable characters:


Stella…Almost by Wiley Blevins

The On-Again, Off-Again Friend by Wiley Blevins 

The Sad Sad Monster by Dolores Costello

5. A Good Children’s Book is Developmentally Appropriate


Developmentally appropriate books are important because they allow your child to succeed when reading. These feelings of success will further motivate them to read, creating a positive learning cycle. Therefore, like knowing what makes a good children’s book, it is important to understand what makes a book a “good fit” for your child.


So, what makes a book developmentally appropriate? To find a suitable book, there are several elements to consider.


First, evaluate the story’s content. That is, what is the story about, and what message is the author portraying? As mentioned earlier, children are drawn to books that they can relate to and that provide a window into the world around them.


Second, consider the difficulty of the language and vocabulary used in the book. It is important that your child can read most of the words in the story so that they can experience feelings of accomplishment. That said, some challenging language is also important to support your child’s continued development as a reader.


Finally, you want to ensure that your child is comprehending what they are reading. Evaluate comprehension by checking in with your child and asking them questions about the story as they (or you) are reading it.


Discover thousands of developmentally appropriate children’s books on the Booka app, including:


Middle Me by Jeff Dinardo

The Not-So-Right Day by Wiley Blevins

6. Important and Teachable Lessons Are Presented


Books provide an opportunity for children to learn and expand their understanding of the world around them. Through books, parents can expose children to life lessons that help them engage with other people, develop ideas, and build new skills. Best of all, presenting these lessons through fun and engaging stories has a much more significant impact than discussing them directly.


What makes a good children’s book lesson? Here are some common and essential lessons to look for.


  • Social Emotional Learning such as kindness, teamwork, problem-solving, acceptance, inclusion, and friendship.
  • Exploring one’s identity, including interests, talents, passions, and family.
  • Exploring academic topics such as mathematics, literacy, art, music, history, and other subjects.


Looking for stories that include important and teachable lessons? Check out these top children’s books:


My Shadow Is Pink by Scott Stuart

Ice Queen by Jamie Tablason

Sheep in the Closet by Mattia Cerato

7. The Plot is Captivating


Like any great book, a good children’s book should have a captivating plot that grabs the reader’s attention. An engaging plot will increase a young reader’s interest in the story. As a result, they will be more likely to learn a lesson from the book and develop their skills as a reader.


Not sure how to identify a captivating plot? Look for books that will make your child laugh or have them on the edge of their seat. For example, stories with comical situations, unexpected problems that must be solved, and/or surprising reactions from characters.


"Ick and Crud" is one of the very best children’s book series that includes captivating and engaging plots. Check out the Ick and Crud series on Booka.

8. The Story Has a Beginning, Middle, and End


Books that are structured with a clear beginning, middle, and end allow children to follow and engage with a story more easily. This type of structure also helps children develop the ability to retell stories and build on their reading comprehension skills.


Typically, a good children’s book begins with an introduction to the characters and setting. Then, in the middle, a problem develops that the characters must solve. Finally, the end shares how the characters overcame the problem they were facing.


By exposing children to this easy-to-follow structure, parents can also provide an example of how they can be authors too!


Check out the Problem Solved! series on the Booka app for great stories with clear, easy-to-follow structures.

9. The Setting is Intriguing


A story’s setting, or where it takes place, is an important part of what makes a good children’s book. Using descriptive language, an author can bring young readers into the world of the characters. A story that provides a detailed description of the setting, through both pictures and words, helps a child visualize the story as it takes place. This is an important skill and will help your child develop an understanding of what they are reading.


When selecting a book for or with your child, look for a familiar setting. Alternatively, look for books that use descriptive language to provide a window into the setting with the help of a little imagination!


Looking for books with a captivating setting? Check out these favorites:


Milo’s Little Secret by Rebecca Ralfe

Now Appearing Stud by Dhana Fox

10. Adults Can Enjoy a Good Children’s Book Too!


Reading and exploring books with your child is an extremely valuable and important part of literacy and language development. Finding a book that you enjoy will allow you to be more engaged and to find satisfaction in sharing and experiencing the story with your child.


When choosing a book, ensure that the story captures your attention. Look for beautiful illustrations, lessons that support your morals and beliefs, and characters that you can relate to.


If you’re looking for a book that you will enjoy just as much as your child, check out the “How It Works” section of the Booka app. Here you’ll find fascinating stories about how things work – from technology and weather to the human body and more!


Now that you know what makes a good children’s book, the question is – where can you find great books for kids? Luckily, Booka makes this easy.


Booka – Where Parents Go to Find Good Children’s Books


At Booka, we know what makes a good children’s book. To help you find books your kids will love, we have created an easy-to-use app with an amazing collection of books for kids of all ages.


Booka offers numerous benefits for children and parents engaging in at-home reading. When you choose Booka, you gain access to exclusive and unique features, including:


  • A simplified, easy-to-use reading app for kids ages 0 – 10.


  • Catalog of children’s books with thousands of options all in one place.


  • Ability to quickly select books based on interest, lessons, age range, and more.


  • Numerous types of books, including educational, non-fiction, picture e-books, audio fairy tales, scientific literature, early learning books, and much more.


  • ‘Read to me’ feature. This option promotes word recognition and story comprehension and helps to support different learning styles.


  • Ability to mark your child’s favorite books. This feature promotes repeated readings which is extremely beneficial for new readers.


  • Multi-lingual library (including books in English, Spanish, and other languages).


  • Ability to create a profile based on age and interest for personalized book suggestions.



Not only does Booka offer the countless benefits above, but it also incorporates learning through technology – making it the ultimate tool for parents with young readers. Technology is engaging and motivating for children. Therefore, reading apps like Booka encourage an interest in reading.


Want to spend less time searching for a good children’s book and more time reading with your child?

10 Things to Consider When Buying Kids and Books

What Makes a Good Children’s Book: 10 Important Characteristics

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