A Reader explains the process of choosing a Book.

Kids who choose their own books have an advantage, it helps them make independent choices, develop literacy likes and dislikes and understand their own reading ability. 

We need to teach them how to choose books to read by themselves. Children who have opportunities to choose their own books have an early advantage. It helps them:

• make independent choices

• develop literacy preferences

• understand their own reading ability

• choose books for specific needs

Training children on how to choose books to read independently, the sooner they will recognise their reading preferences. As they get older, they will have strategies to determine the best material for their own academic endeavors.

Children may pick books that are too hard or too easy but this is part of the process. They won’t understand their own reading preferences and ability until they choose books that they can’t read or don’t want to read. Very young children will not choose books to read independently but they can start the process from an early age.

The first step is to find out what your children enjoy reading. Let them loose to see what they choose for themselves. You may be surprised by the choices they make.

Have a quick chat to discover their thought process. You may find you have a class of fantasy lovers or ones who enjoy nonfiction. 

• Did they pick the book from the cover (more on that below)

• Have they read it before?

• Did they pick up any book because they felt overwhelmed by the task?

Take note of any common preferences and interests to inform your read-aloud choices. Adults are influential in developing a love of reading in children. This means we need to promote their access to a varied selection of reading materials. For example, graphic novels and magazines can have as much impact on reading as traditional books.

Give them time to explore books. Ask them to choose a book just from the front cover. What book covers interest them? Colorful, bold, realistic, fantasy, muted, animals, people, etc.

Once the children have chosen a book by the cover, teach them about the benefits of a book blurb. Even though the blurb on a picture book or an easy reader is small, there will be enough information for them to make an initial decision. Does the book still interest them? If so, get them to explore random pages to further gauge their interest.

Ask your children the following questions to support them in making appropriate book choices. Encourage them to verbalize and explain their choices.

• What type of book are you looking for?

• Are you looking for fiction or nonfiction?

• Are you looking for something funny, scary, adventurous…?

• Does the book cover spark interest?

• Does the cover provide any clues to the theme of the book?

• Does the blurb make you want to find out more about the book?

• Does the topic or theme of the book interest you?

• Is the book part of a series?

• Do you think you would want to read more about the characters?

• Do you know the author? 

• Have you read any of their other books?

• Does the length of the book seem a good fit for you?

Reading should be fun, otherwise what is the point! For children reading should be about enjoyment and entertainment. As they get older they will read to learn, but we don’t want them to lose their love of learning. That’s why we need to embed a positive attitude while they are young.