How to Choose Age-Appropriate Books for your Child

Angela Comer-Lam
Jul 30
2 min read

July 14th, 2025

I know how special it feels to watch your child get excited about a story—especially when the book is just right for them. But with so many choices out there, it can be tricky to know which books will truly capture your child’s interest and match their reading level. Let me share some simple tips to make picking the perfect book a little easier for you.

Think About Your Child’s Interests

Start by noticing what your child loves. Are they fascinated by animals, adventure, silly stories, or real-life heroes? When you choose books that connect with their interests, you’ll instantly make reading more appealing.

Check the Reading Level

You want your child to feel confident, not frustrated. Here’s a quick trick: open a book to any page and have your child read a few sentences. If they stumble over more than five words on a single page, the book might be a bit too challenging right now—and that’s okay! Look for books where they understand most of the words but still find the story exciting.

Explore Different Types of Books

Don’t be afraid to mix it up! Picture books, early readers, graphic novels, non-fiction, and poetry—all these can keep reading fresh and fun. Sometimes, a new format is just what your child needs to get hooked.

Look for Award Winners and Recommendations

If you’re ever unsure, check out book lists from your local library, your child’s school, or trusted organizations like the Children’s Book Council. Award-winning books are often crowd-pleasers for a reason!

Trust Your Instincts

You know your child best. If a book makes them laugh, gets them asking questions, or has them begging for “just one more page,” you’re on the right track.

Remember, every reader is unique, and it’s perfectly normal to try a few books before finding the ones that really click. Something I noticed from my own children is that my son was much more into reading factual books than my daughter, and he also enjoyed things he could dip in and out of. If you are struggling to get your child interested in reading try some of the National Geographic books for Children or the Times Almanac Year books, these are great to get them interested.

If you ever need suggestions, I’d be happy to help—just reply to this email!

And don’t forget next time, I’ll be talking about the Right Questions to Ask to engage your child during reading sessions. Keep an eye on your inbox—you won’t want to miss it!

Warm regards,

Angela

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