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How to Choose a Children's Book (For Grandparents, the Childless, and the Clueless)
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So you say you've got a child on your holiday gift list this year. You've already made a pilgrimage to the local bookstore and you're overwhelmed.
There were hundreds of books to look at, zillions of choices, toys, games, crying kids... you couldn't escape fast enough.
Empty-handed, of course.
So now what? You'd like to give the kid a book for a gift, being the smart auntie / grandparent / honorary uncle / future step-parent that you are, but you don't have Clue One where to start.
And that's why you're online. HELP!
For infants to age two:
This is an easy age when it comes to buying books. Four words - cloth books, board books. Cloth books are just that: books made of cloth. They can be chewed-on, put in the laundry, thrown (and nobody will get hurt if they're smacked with a cloth book), slept with, and while they're not indestructible, they're the next best thing. Board books are heavy cardboard, not quite as durable as cloth books but probably more interesting if you're two years old.
The thing about buying books for this age group is that, for the most part, the buying is really for Mom.
For toddlers and preschoolers ages three to five:
This is the fun age. Think picture books... you know, those larger-sized books with lots of fabulous illustrations. New picture books come out all the time and there are some really cute ones. "Pete & Pickles" by Berkeley Breathed is one of my favorites. Kids this age love the "Walter the Farting Dog" books (especially if you read them with sound effects). You'll find "girl" books and "boy" books, Christmas, Hanukkah,and Kwanzaa books, as well as books for African American children, Asian children, differently abled children... all kinds of books for kids of this age. Really, go look at the picture books. You'll have a hard time choosing what to give.
For gradeschoolers ages six to eight:
While kids of this age still love read-aloud time, they're spreading their wings and learning to read. There are some pretty decent easy-readers for kids this age, and if you're savvy, you can buy several without breaking the wallet open too badly. When you're buying easy readers, though, think about what the child likes. There are shark books, horse books, kid-friendly novels and lots of choices. Look for the Magic Treehouse books, Junie B. Jones, and the Berenstein Bears books. You'll find some good non-fiction, too, so poke around. Hint: don't dismiss the above picture books because some of them double as easy-readers.
For older kids, ages nine to 13:
This is where buying a book gets hard. Sorry.
You're going to want to know what your giftee likes before choosing a book for kids of this age group. Harry Potter fanatics will like the James Owen trilogy, starting with "Here, There Be Dragons". There are some really great High School Musical books out this year, and the Hannah Montana books will earn you a big hug when you give them (to a girl, more than likely). Try the Uncle John's Bathroom Readers for kids who grumble about picking up a book. There are some pretty decent fun-to-read, never-dry almanacs out there, and some good history books that won't be deemed as "boring". Try looking for any of the more recent DK books (DK being a publisher of distinction)... they have a really cool spy book and a very well-done history book available.
My best advice is to ask Mom or Dad what the child likes to do and go from there. I think kids of this age are hard but fun to buy for, because the books are adult-friendly as well as perfect for kids. This means you can spend time reading them, too, without feeling silly.
For teenagers, ages 14 to 17:
Piece of cake. You're home-free with this age group.
For girls, the Twilight books will be a big hit, as are some of the teenage vampire kinds of things. Again, James Owen will make a sci-fi fan smile. Look for the Uncle John's Bathroom Readers, only find the adult books; the kids' books will be too "babyish" for teens. Head for the Manga books, but only if you know for sure your teen is into Japanese comics.
If all else fails, get a teen a bookstore gift certificate and make a lunch date to go shopping with them before school starts back up. That way, you'll know what to buy next year.
More hints:
What did you like when YOU were that age? You can't beat the classics... the Beverly Cleary books (remember Ramona the Pest and Henry Huggins?), the Black Beauty books, Gertrude Chandler Warner's "The Boxcar Children", "Half Magic" by Edward Eager, or maybe even a handful of Little Golden Books. The nice thing about introducing a child to a book you loved is that it opens the door to storytelling... and really, isn't that exactly what books are good for?
Season's Readings!
