Parents looking for high-quality literature for their children’s library may find navigating the bookstore challenging. The great thing about introducing children to literature is that, no matter when a book was originally published, it’s all new to them. A parent isn’t limited to only the modern day’s best-sellers. This also means, though, that the options are nearly endless.
Reading Is Fundamental
The parents I spoke to all view reading as an essential priority in their children’s upbringing. YouTuber and homeschooling mom Ashlee Williams said having good books in her home is “extremely important, and one of the many reasons we chose to homeschool so that our children’s exposure to things would be chosen by us.”Author and mom of nine, Libby Kiszner also calls upon fond memories from childhood to inspire her approach. “As a mother of nine, having good books in my home is a high priority, as is reading bedtime stories (as bonding time) before they drift off to dreamland. When I was a kid I was the quintessential bookworm, and the stories I read nurtured my imagination, created worlds, allowed me to feel things and visit places I would never otherwise know, and taught me spelling, grammar, word usage and, of course, life skills.”
Where to Look
So, what are the best resources for finding good books? Williams told me she refers to The Good and the Beautiful library and book lists from homeschool curriculum companies.Many parents I spoke to pointed to their library as their primary resource for books.
“We rely heavily on our library. It’s free, and they keep the books neatly organized and dusted. If you’re short on time, librarians can make fabulous suggestions on demand,” Corkum said.
Choosing Good Books
Amidst the vast array of books available to children, quality varies significantly. The parents I spoke to considered different criteria to evaluate books for their kids.Williams said she looks at the “content as a whole—is there foul language? Are the characters disrespectful to adults or other children? Does the book contain moral lessons?”
“We start reading to them when they are just a few months old,” Corkum explained. “When our kids are preschool and school-aged, we strive to read to them above their reading level almost every day. Once they read independently, we have them read silently at reading level and read out loud to others with material below their reading level so they can practice reading with inflection. We read a lot of classics and look for books with strong plot lines and use of the English language.”
But Who Has Time?
Parents are busy, no doubt about it. Some may find it challenging to make time for reading and curating a library for their children.Williams suggests “finding a group of like-minded parents, whether on the internet or in real life, and take their recommendations. Stick to classics written long ago.”
“If parents of young children feel short on time for reading to their children, combine activities: bathtime and bath book, mealtime and a board book about food or babies eating, bedtime snuggles and a bedtime book,” Kiel suggested.
Friends Read Free