Here is some advice that we hope will help you choose books to borrow and to buy. It is a general guide, but staff at your local library will be able to help you choose books for your child to borrow. If you are able, spend time with us so we can learn more about your childs interests and hobbies so we can match them up with books they will enjoy.
General guide to choosing books
Pretend the book is an item of clothing:
- Do you like its look?
- Will it last more than one season?
- Is it well made?
- Does it appeal to you more than the others?
- Will your child outgrow it quickly and therefore should you borrow it from a library or buy it?
- Or what about a video?
- What do you like about your favourite video?
- The plot, the characters, the scenery, the script?
Where to go for help choosing books:
- Ask library staff for help choosing books by visiting any one of our libraries
- Visit the book dog pages of our website and browse through the book reviews. We have reviewed loads of books of all different kinds.
- Visit the kids own review pages to learn what other kids are reading and how they rate the books that are available.
- Visit the readers react pages of our website and browse through the book reviews. We have reviewed loads of books and there are even reviews from teens themselves.
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Choosing books from birth to 6 years
- There should be an illustration on every page and little text.
- Plot should be accessible to young listeners.
- Illustrations should be understandable and enticing.
- Bright illustrations, especially in primary colours, are good. Have a look at Dick Bruna's books.
- Picture books are meant to be read aloud while the little person pours over the illustrations - so both text and pictures need to be equally enticing.
- For very little people books like Tana Hoban's Black and White are perfect - they're in board book format (and double as teething rings) and the with high contrast simple pictures are ideal for eyes just learning to focus.
- Books with repetitive rhyming text are always popular, and you can't go wrong with Lynley Dodd's Hairy Maclary books.
- If you're the one reading it aloud - make sure you like it too, and can cope with umpteen re-readings of the same book!
- And remember - the staff at your local library are always there to help!
- At around 2 years it's time to introduce good quality alphabet and number books.
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Choosing books for 6 to 9 years
- Beginner and easy-to-read books need to have short episodic chapters; illustrations scattered throughout; simple vocabulary; slightly larger-than-normal type; a plot and characters which are interesting, but without being too complicated.
- They need pictures to bridge the gap between picture books and reading chapter books
- The illustrations need to enhance the text and provide extra clues to the text.
- They can be read aloud to young children and/or by the child as they gain confidence.
- And remember - the staff at your local library are always there to help!
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Choosing books for 9 to 12 years
- There is a lot to choose from so, for these years in particular, be guided by your knowledge of the child's interests.
- Remember, reading non-fiction is as valid as fiction - if your son is interested in cars, find some good non-fiction books about cars to introduce reading for pleasure.
- Check out the reviews on the Auckland City Libraries' Book Dog for some more guidance.
- And remember - the staff at your local library are always there to help!
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Choosing books for teens
- Books for teenagers are nearly the same as those for adults but the books deal specifically with adolescent issues.
- There are also books at a slightly lower than adult reading level which are just for fun!
- Check out the reviews on the Auckland City Libraries' Readers' React for some more guidance. And remember - the staff at your local library are always there to help!
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