Reading and storytelling are fundamental to a child’s development. Studies show that children who are read to and have open access to books develop superior language and literacy skills. Building your home library has never been easier, thanks to Kid to Kid! Discover how to enrich your child’s reading journey without breaking the bank!
Empower Their Choices and Interests
It’s important to remember that kids learn faster when it’s a subject they are interested in. When choosing books make sure to cater to their interests, but don’t be afraid to give them a bit of variety. Choosing age-appropriate books and letting them read at their own pace will help foster great reading habits. Here are some book examples that are perfect for certain age groups between 0-12 years.
Infants & toddlers (Ages 0-3)
Kids at this stage require simple and durable books with cardboard and fabric being the most popular materials. Many of these books have very simple wording if any, bright colors, and engaging textures. Some well-read classic books for this age are Goodnight Moon, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Where’s Spot, and Guess How Much I Love You. Kids at this age greatly benefit from being read to, and these are great moments to share with your child!
Preschoolers (Ages 3-5)
At this stage, it is important to start encouraging early literacy as this is the time studies have shown that their brains grow the most. Try interactive books with repetitive phrases, engaging picture books, and rhyming. Classic books for their age group are Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, If You Give A Mouse A Cookie, Green Eggs And Ham, and Corduroy.
Early Readers (Ages 6-8)
At this age, children have started school and are getting the basics down of reading. For early readers, you can begin introducing series specifically made for their age group. It’s also important to start reading chapters to help build concentration and reading stamina for later in life. Remember since they are still mastering reading to keep it simple, fun, and engaging. Try classic titles such as Freckle Juice, The Magic Tree House series, Junie B. Jones series, and Frog And Toad series.
Middle Grade (Ages 9-12)
If your kid has mastered early reading and is looking for a challenge this is the age group to give them books with more complicated vocabulary and longer chapters. These books are going to help establish critical thinking, how to overcome challenges, and how to develop empathy. Pay attention to the reading level as YA or young adult is not recommended for younger audiences and even some books geared toward middle grade may have sensitive topics. Some series to read are The Black Stallion series, The Secret Garden, The Wind In the Willows, Wings of Fire series, and The Hardy Boys series.
Expanding Your Library on a Budget
Now that we have the basics for age groups, the question now is how do you grow their library and keep expanding their minds through books? The answer is resale! At Kid to Kid, we buy and sell gently used books which means not only do we have a variety your kid is sure to love, you’ll also see the savings. And when they outgrow them, you can sell their old books to us and earn cash for new ones! So what are you waiting for? Stop into your local store today and get your library started!
