How to Pick Books for Young Children

Books are popular gifts to children.
Maybe your family follows the practice of Four Simple Gifts:

1. Something They Want
2. Something They Need
3. Something to Wear
4. Something to Read

Maybe your family is enjoying the 25 Books for Christmas tradition.
Perhaps your family just values the practice of reading to young children.
No matter the reason for your book gift-giving, it can be tricky to choose just the right book for a child.

Here are some things to consider when choosing a book for a young child.

• Are the words at the child's level?
• Are the illustrations fun and colorful?
• Do the words and the pictures go together?
• Is it a topic of interest to the child?
• Is the book playful and engaging?

Several months ago, I also posted a series about Great Book for Christian Kids. It has some guidelines for picking books for preteens and teens as well.

I pray that your family will have some quiet time this Christmas season. I pray that you will take time to sit together and enjoy the greatest story of all, the story of the birth of our Savior.

Carol

Three Reasons for Something to Read

It started at the Apple Store. (Actually it started long before that.) The young 20-something clerk leaned toward me and asked if I could believe it. Believe what? She wanted to know if I could believe that they already had their Christmas tree up...

People are looking forward to a Thanksgiving feast with family this week, but they are also looking ahead to checking off the items on their Christmas shopping list. Almost everyday I read the adage -

Something they want; something they need; something to wear; something to read...

I wish I knew WHO originated that. I surely would credit that individual or organization here.

And, of course, I am focused on the last part - #something to read.

Here are three reasons to add something to read for the kids and teens on your shopping list.

1. Books Offer New Adventures After the flurry of gifts on Christmas, kids are faced with days off school and some extra time on their hands. Giving a book for Christmas is a great passport to new places, new experiences, and new learning challenges.
2. Books Bring People Together Our family looks forward to additional time together over the Christmas break. Being able to stay in our jammies a tad later or staying up way to late has always been a time to pull out those board games. It can also be a time to share a new book. The #something to read book might be a new publication or it might be a treasured title for a parent or grandparent to share with the child.
3. Books Foster Spiritual Growth Just after Christmas comes the New Year. Giving a child a new devotional is a perfect way to encourage them to take a fresh look at God's Word.

I took a poll on Twitter, and 100% of the people who responded said that they would be giving at least one book this Christmas.

What about your gift giving this year? Will the gifts under your tree include #something to read?

Carol