Selecting the right books for preschoolers is an essential step in fostering a lifelong love of reading and building a solid foundation for literacy. Age-appropriate and high-quality children’s literature is a window to wonder, transporting children to places they have never been, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary, and unlocking thoughts never imagined.  They can be an introduction to new vocabulary, promote curiosity, support the development of critical thinking and enhance imagination. 

While reading anything at all is beneficial for young children, research supports the notion that children who are exposed to high-quality, age-appropriate literature from an early age have greater long-term academic success. Here are some things to keep in mind during your next trip to the local library or bookstore when selecting a book for your child. 

Look for age-appropriate and engaging books for preschoolers

You can determine if a children’s book is age-appropriate in a few ways including screening for the book’s age guide, reading level, and content. You may also wish to consider the book’s illustrations, language, and overall theme. At the end of the day, as your child’s parent, you know your child best.  While children tend to follow a general pattern of developmental milestones, each child reaches those milestones at a pace that is unique to them. Understanding your child’s development will be a critical factor in selecting high-quality books that are appropriate specifically for your child. 

Children at the preschool age are beginning to make deeper connections between their experiences and the world around them. When choosing books for preschoolers, in addition to the above, look for the following:

• Books with fun text, engaging illustrations, simple plots, and authentic characters. Age-appropriate books for preschoolers are easily read aloud and have illustrations that catch the eye or tell a story of their own. They also contain characters who have relatable feelings and experiences and follow a plot that takes your child through a clear beginning, middle, and end.  
• Books that promote imagination. Does the book have the ability to transport your child to another place? Does it use language that paints a picture? Preschoolers’ imaginations are exploding so choose books that build on these budding pretend play skills.
• Books that promote social-emotional development. Selecting books that touch on topics such as empathy and understanding, perspective-taking, problem-solving, and prosocial behaviors allows you to deepen your child’s understanding and skill development. Look for characters that face a challenge in the story, descriptive language that describes a character’s feelings, or an opportunity for your child to reflect on what they may do in a particular situation. 
• Books that promote rich language development. When choosing your next book, pay attention to the language that is used. As Bright Horizons child development experts discuss in the Teach. Play. Love. podcast, children benefit from books that introduce new vocabulary words, encourage conversation, as well as introduce language concepts such as rhyming and alliteration.
• Books that promote belonging. Intentionally seek books that represent a variety of people, experiences, and traditions when sourcing your next children’s book. Doing this will provide your child with mirrors and windows; opportunities to see both reflections of themselves (mirrors) and opportunities to observe differences in the world around them (windows), while widening their understanding of empathy for the larger world. Ensure the books that you are selecting have family structures, races, genders, abilities, and lifestyles that reflect your family as well as people and families in your larger community.

Fostering a habit of reading high-quality, age-appropriate books from an early age will significantly contribute to your child’s academic success. Remember to keep these things in mind next time you’re choosing a book for your preschooler. To jumpstart your next book-sourcing trip, take a look at our Growing Readers book lists. Check out tips from our child development experts on creating a great story time with children of all ages.