Library Book Choosing
What you need
- a bag to carry the books
How to do it
- At the library, or at your own bookshelf, let your child choose three books all by themselves.
- Ask them about each one: why this one? What do they think happens?
- Read one there together, then carry the rest away in the bag.
- Later, ask them to tell you about one of the books they chose: who was in it and what happened.
Why it matters
A book they picked themselves is one they care about, and telling you about it later means remembering who was in it and what happened.
What they're learning
- Choosing a book
- Looking at the covers and deciding.
- Talking about a story
- Who was in it and what happened.
- Guessing from the cover
- What might this one be about?
What to look for
Notice them telling you about a page they liked without being asked.
A tip
Children can join the library for free, and most libraries have a picture book corner at child height. Ask about their story times too.
Make it easier or harder
Easier: pick two books and let them choose one
Harder: ask them to find a book about something they love, like diggers or dinosaurs, and hunt for it together
