How do you pick quality literature for your child?
1. Choose books that have won awards.
"Book award programs have been established to elevate and maintain the literary and artistic standards of children's books and honor the authors whose work is judged by experts in the field to have the greatest merit." Some well-known book awards include:
2. Consult review journals.
"Journals that review children's books and feature current topics in the field of children's literature are an important source of information" for teachers, librarians, and parents. Some read-worthy journals include:
3. Peruse professional associations and websites.
"Major professional associations that have strong connections to the field of children's literature and so provide a range of services, projects, and resources of use to teachers, [parents], and librarians include:"
4. Get to know you child's interests.
There are books about all topics: American Girl Dolls, Minecraft, Monster Trucks, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Barbie, and more! If you find books that your child is interested in, encouraging them to read will be much easier. Scholastic.com/parents even has a drop-down menu that allows you to search for your child's interests.
5. Choose books that are the right reading level for your child.
Your child's classroom teacher should have information on your child's reading level, or you can assess your own child. Have your child pick a book and read the first page. Every time your child encounters a word he or she does not know, he or she can put a finger up. If your child has five or more fingers up on the first page, the book is too challenging. One to four fingers up is an appropriate reading level!
Ideas are adapted from Essentials of Children's Literature, 8th Edition, by Kathy G. Short, Carol Lynch-Brown, and Carl M. Tomlinson.
"Book award programs have been established to elevate and maintain the literary and artistic standards of children's books and honor the authors whose work is judged by experts in the field to have the greatest merit." Some well-known book awards include:
- Newbery Medal: for the most distinguished contribution to children's literature published in the previous year.
- Caldecott Medal: for the most distinguished picture book for children published in the previous year, given to an illustrator.
- National Book Award Award for Young People's Literature: for outstanding contribution to children's literature in terms of literary merit published in the previous year.
- Coretta Scott King Awards for Writing and Illustration: for outstanding contribution to literature for children and young people by an African-American author and illustrator published in the previous year.
- Pura Belpré Awards for writing and Illustration: for writing and illustration in a work of literature for youth published in the previous year by a Latino writer and illustrator whose work portrays, affirms, and celebrates Latino cultural experiences.
2. Consult review journals.
"Journals that review children's books and feature current topics in the field of children's literature are an important source of information" for teachers, librarians, and parents. Some read-worthy journals include:
- The Reading Teacher (www.reading.org)
- School Library Journal (www.schoollibraryjournal.com)
- The Horn Book Magazine (www.hbook.com)
- Kirkus Reviews (www.kirkusreviews.com)
3. Peruse professional associations and websites.
"Major professional associations that have strong connections to the field of children's literature and so provide a range of services, projects, and resources of use to teachers, [parents], and librarians include:"
- Children's Literature Association (www.childlitassn.org)
- International Reading Association (www.reading.org)
- Children's Literature Comprehensive Database (www.clcd.com)
4. Get to know you child's interests.
There are books about all topics: American Girl Dolls, Minecraft, Monster Trucks, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Barbie, and more! If you find books that your child is interested in, encouraging them to read will be much easier. Scholastic.com/parents even has a drop-down menu that allows you to search for your child's interests.
5. Choose books that are the right reading level for your child.
Your child's classroom teacher should have information on your child's reading level, or you can assess your own child. Have your child pick a book and read the first page. Every time your child encounters a word he or she does not know, he or she can put a finger up. If your child has five or more fingers up on the first page, the book is too challenging. One to four fingers up is an appropriate reading level!
Ideas are adapted from Essentials of Children's Literature, 8th Edition, by Kathy G. Short, Carol Lynch-Brown, and Carl M. Tomlinson.