What To Look For
Learning to read is a key life skill for kids. According to research by the University of Wisconsin, early reading ability is one of the key predictors of how children will succeed in their later schooling years and life. Look for books based on academic research that explain how kids learn to read, such as Literacy Begins at Birth, by Marjorie Fields and Learning and Loving to Read, by Jill Frankel Hauser. Once you have grasped the science, choose books that will grab kids attention and make reading fun. Look for books with plenty of pictures, large fonts and interesting plots. The Read-Aloud Handbook, by Jim Trelease, provides a selection of the wordless books, predictable books and reference books, short novels and even poetry, your kid should not be without. Be warned, if you choose the right books, you better get ready to read the same stories over and over again.
Common Pitfalls
Avoid books that make reading a chore or that are above your children's reading level. If your child is still very young you may even consider a wordless book. Wordless books, such as the Red Book, by Barbara Lehman, are full of pictures, and no words. According to the University of California Cooperative Extension, wordless books help develop a kid's language ability--an important prereading skill.
Where To Buy
Shopping online is usually the cheapest choice, especially if you are buying several books at once. Amazon.com waives a shipping and handling fee for orders over $25. However, consider turning shopping for a book into part of the adventure of reading by taking your child with you to a brick and mortar bookshop, or even better, a library. Barnes & Noble bookshops have large children's sections with an ideal atmosphere to kindle your kid's love for reading.
Cost
Reference and academic books on teaching methods and field research can range from $80 to $20, while children books go for as little as $5. The Read-Aloud Handbook with its comprehensive list of kid's books is a great investment at $10.
