A good children’s book shares the same characteristics as a good adult novel. Able to captivate the reader imagination so they keep turning the pages and read it through till the end.
Quality writing is never dull. A good children’s book, no matter how simple or complexed the story might be, it must have a sense of joy.
A good book, just like a good movie, must make a child laugh and cry. Think of the Walt Disney movies, I’m sure your child has a favorite? In their favorite Walt Disney movie, the main character experiences many challenges that your child will connect with, and the response will trigger a strong emotion such as laughing or crying. Remember Bambi?
Regardless of how young the reader maybe, they need a strong main character who they can relate to and truly care about.
Good books also have a subtle moral where your child learns a valuable lesson, while still telling a great story.
For example, in The Very Hungry Caterpillar, kids learn about numbers, fruit and days of the week, but it’s hardly noticed because they have fallen in love with the illustrations and their newly discovered ability to predict what is going to happen next.
Good stories allow children to explore other worlds and other lives, but they are still familiar enough that they see themselves in the characters.
Allow your child to reject the books that they dislike and encourage them to tell you what and why they like a particular book and story.
Good books have several characteristics. These include being:
- Authentic
- Credible
- Captivating
- Exciting
Great stories also use language that is rich and challenging. But make sure if you’re introducing a child to reading, not too challenging that it will discourage them from wanting to learn to read. Make sure it is a picture book with simple words they can sound out, then progress slowly to books that are more challenging.
