Choosing a book for a child is not only about developing an interest in reading but also about nurturing their thinking, emotions, and moral values. With a professional approach, the following factors must be considered:
1. Age appropriateness
0–3 years: Books with thick cardboard pages, large illustrations, short and simple text. At this age, children learn mostly through visual and auditory perception.
4–6 years: The number of words increases, but the text should still be short and lively. Illustrations should complement the story’s content.
7 years and older: Books with simple plots and vocabulary suitable for the child’s age, with a gradual transition to larger volumes.
2. Simplicity and structure of the text
Books for young children should not contain long and complex sentences. Words should enrich the child’s vocabulary without distracting or overwhelming them.
3. Quality of illustrations and design
Colors should attract the child’s attention without straining their eyes. Illustrations should match the story and help the child better understand the plot.
4. Moral and educational value of the content
The events in the book should teach the child values such as friendship, kindness, honesty, and diligence. Violence, insults, or age-inappropriate content should be avoided.
5. Matching the child’s interests
If the child is interested in animals, books about animals are suitable. If they enjoy imagination, fairy tales and legends will be appropriate. Interests can be used to strengthen the love for reading.
6. Material and safety
The paper of the book should be safe for the child. For young children, corners should not be sharp, and pages should be easy to turn. Books for children aged 0–3 must not contain small or dangerous elements that the child could put in their mouth, swallow, or that could dissolve.
7. Reliability of author and publisher
The chosen books should be written by authors experienced in children’s literature and published by publishers who understand child psychology. High-quality editing and lexical control ensure the correctness and clarity of the book’s content.
