LibGuides: Early Childhood Education: Picture Books

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Please keep these tips in mind for choosing books:

Scan the cover of potential books for a recommended age group. This is particularly helpful for younger audiences, as most publishers of infant to preschool books will label their books with a suggested age group.
Choose familiar or favorite authors if you are choosing a book for older children. Many authors have books written in a series or similar subject matters or themes, and choosing another title from their collection may be a safe bet.
Look at bestsellers lists.
Don't choose books based on the recommended age group alone. Children learn at different paces, and may be more or less advanced than their exact age. Be sure to select books that are appropriate for their level of reading proficiency.
When looking through potential choices, pay attention to the pictures as well as the words. Are the images of places, people, or things your readers can connect with? For younger children, look for vibrant colors and pictures of their favorite sights, including animals, trucks, or dolls. For older children, choose images that trigger their imagination or catch their interest, such as dragons, fairies, princesses, or other similar icons. Choose books with pictures of items your children enjoy, and you will have a much better chance of success.