by Jess Shelleman
Having worked in libraries for over 16 years, it should come as no surprise that one of my go-to gifts for children, or Moms-to-be at baby showers, is books. I can only speak for myself, but I find so much joy in gifting a book to a child and hoping they’ll enjoy it as much as I do.
I have more than a little bit of experience with children’s books; according to Goodreads, I’ve read nearly 4400 children’s picture books since I started keeping track in 2009. Having read that many books over the years, it’s sometimes hard to choose exactly which books I want to gift, and for me, choosing a book for a child is serious business. Below, I’ll list some tips I use for choosing a book for a child, and also include a few specific titles and authors that I enjoy.
- Try to stay away from super popular books or classic picture books that have been around “forever”; chances are, the family may already own the book. However, if it’s a classic book that you absolutely loved as a child, go for it. Gifts from the heart are always special.
- Children love to explore and discover; look for books that have interesting illustrations that will encourage exploration.
- Take a look at sweet books that make a child feel included, safe, and loved. But also, look at books that are funny and will make the child laugh. If you’re looking at a book that makes you laugh or cry (in a good way), it would probably make a good gift.
- Board books, tactile, and high contrast books are fantastic for infants, but it’s also okay to get a book that the child will grow into.
- I love anything by Todd Parr. Seriously, his books are amazing! They’re full of simple, brightly colored drawings that represent the diversity of children and families, and tell the children how much they are all loved, no matter who they are or what they do…even if they wear underwear on their head (yes, this happens frequently).
- I also love anything by Jan Brett. Her books are a little on the longer side, but reading the words on the page is only part of the experience. She creates amazingly beautiful illustrations that are so well done that they can pretty much tell the story without using words.
- There have been several books published that literally use the lyrics from popular songs with illustrations based on the words. Some of my favorites are What a Wonderful World, Walking in a Winter Wonderland, and One Love.
Ultimately, if the book is given from the heart, the child will love it. If you haven’t read a children’s book in a while, go to the children’s area of your local branch library or a local bookstore and see what you can discover. Children’s books have come a long way over the years. Start reading and see what you can find.
Jess Shelleman is Branch Manager of the Littlestown Library, part of the Adams County Library System.