As a parent, when you are looking to purchase new books for children, you want to make sure that you are finding the best type of reading materials possible. You want to ensure that your child is able to get the most out of each and every story they come across.

It is now a well-known fact that kids need to have books read to them regularly in order to encourage various developmental elements, such as their social, academic, and language skills as well as their problem-solving skills later in life. However, the tricky part that we don't always get right, is getting the right type of books for our children. This is now what the goal needs to be!

Let's make sure that as parents, we are investing in the best possible reading material for our kids. Aside from all of the benefits that the right books will have on your child, you also don't want to waste your money on the wrong book that your child won't enjoy - we all want to get them that 'new favorite' or 'best ever bedtime story'!

Now, check out our rundown of the top seven things to look out for when buying books for kids this year!

What Types Of Books For Children Are The Best?

Let's talk about what to do when you are considering purchasing a new book for a child...

1. Age And Development


One of the first things that you want to look out for when buying a book for a child is a pretty obvious one - what sort of age group is the book aimed at?

For example, you don't want to get a book that is geared towards kindergarteners that you are planning to read to a toddler. And, at the same time, you don't want to get a book that's at the correct level for a child that is of a certain age but is developmentally delayed. Similarly, you may not want to purchase an age-appropriate book for a child that is gifted, as they will most likely get more enjoyment out of a book that is a little more advanced than their current age would usually suggest.

Top tip: One of the first things to do is to take a look at the age recommendation when you're buying a book for a child - most of the time, that alone will tell you if the book is ideal for kids of the age group you are looking for!

2. Books For Children That Have Pictures


Next up on our rundown of what to look out for when purchasing new reading material for your child, we're now looking into the visual elements of the book.

It's no surprise that kids of all ages in the elementary school stage love reading books that have pictures. This is also true of much younger kids, who will likely be more interested in the book that their parents or caregivers are reading to them if it has pictures.

Studies have shown time and time again that books that do not have pictures will not hold the same type of interest for younger kids, which usually means they will end up losing their attention during storytime.

Top tip: when selecting a new book for a younger child and trying to narrow down your choice, perhaps the deciding factor can be; which of these books has the brightest and most colorful artwork!

3. Books That Cater To The Interest Of Kids


Another key element to consider when purchasing a new book for your child is, of course, the content of the book. It is important to introduce books to kids that are about different and varied topics, rather than sticking only to the subjects that they have already shown an interest in. Varying the content of the books that you read to your child is what will ultimately help them to expand their horizons.

However, you also want to make sure that the book will be interesting and captivating enough for the child. The likelihood is that your child may already have a few books that cater to their known interests. For instance, if the child loves dogs, then they probably already have a favorite book about dogs, but it is also a good idea to get them a couple of books on other animals in order to give them the opportunity to learn about other animals.

Top tip: while it's great to expand our kid's horizons, it's also important not to take them too far out of their interest zones. For example, if the child that loves dogs hates anything that has to do with sports, don't get a book about sports, or else their interest will be lost immediately!

4. Look For Classics


Tip number 4 on our rundown of what to look out for when purchasing books for your kids is all to do with the classics!

Classic stories are great for families to read and enjoy all together. When you are looking to purchase books for your children this year, you should definitely make sure that you add some classics to the list!

Everyone loves classic books! Classic stories not only provide kids with the benefits that reading and listening to stories provides us, but it also provides us as parents with an opportunity to share our favorite childhood stories with our kids.

Top tip: Perhaps you have a favorite book from childhood that is still available to buy in print? Perhaps even your parents had a favorite book that you remember them reading to you? Why not start a fun family tradition of passing down a classic story. Just think - one day you could be reading it to your grandchildren too!

5. Font Matters!


Tip number five is all about the typography! If the child is old enough to read for themselves, then you want to make sure that the book you're thinking of buying for that child has fonts that are nice and easy for them to read.

Some easy reading fonts to look out for include; the Arial font, Georgia, or Times New Roman fonts. There are many other interesting fonts out there, such as Comic Sans etc., however, depending on the age of the child, these are often not ideal. For kids that are just learning to read, fancier fonts can be a little overwhelming.

Top tip: while you're looking out for the best easy read fonts for your child, it's also important to ensure that the size of the fonts in the book is also age-appropriate. For example, an eight or nine-year-old will likely be able to tackle smaller fonts than the average five or six year old would be capable of.

6. The Design Of The Book


Tip number six also has us taking a closer look at the aesthetics of the book. As we have already discussed, it's usually best if there are pictures, particularly for younger kids.

However, you still want to make sure that the images and artwork of the book are age-appropriate for that specific child. This means ensuring that the images and overall design of the book are not overwhelming in any way at all.

Top tip: this is particularly relevant if you're looking to purchase a new 'bedtime' story for your child - the last thing you want is to overstimulate their minds right before bedtime with overbearing artwork and pictures! If it's a bedtime story that you're after, try to find a book with calming & relaxing images that will help them drift off to sleep.

7. The Condition Of The Book


In at number seven, the final tip that we have for you to keep in mind when purchasing new books for your children is the overall condition of the book!

It's true that generally, we will save money if the books we buy are used books, but just how used is the book? If it falls apart within months, then it's obviously not a good investment.

Top tip: If you are buying a used book for whatever reason, make sure that you buy it from a store, so that you can see it in person, or if you are purchasing online, make sure you ask for several photos of the book!

So there you have it - our top things to look out for when buying books for your children this year!

Next time you find yourself looking for new books for your children, make sure that you keep in mind these important considerations in order to make sure that both you and the child get the best possible reading experience!