Choosing Books for Your Reading Circle

• If you have children of all ages at your Reading Circle, you will need to bring a very wide selection of library books.
• Bring lots of books. ie: 30 children = 60 books

For children aged two and three:

• choose board books with simple pictures
• look for clear, bright pictures
• read nursery rhymes, mother goose, and finger plays
• talk about the pictures; build vocabulary

For children aged four and five:

• choose picture books with large print and just a few words on each page.
• choose books which have predictable words or phrases that the children can enjoy repeating. ie: he ate five strawberries, and he was.. . "STILL HUNGRY!" - Eric Carle
• use alphabet books, have the children tell you the letters.
• have children point out colours, numbers, shapes and objects

For children aged six and seven:

• easy-to-read books ie: - Dr. Seuss
• funny books ie: - Robert Munsch
• rhyming books ie: - Dennis Lee
• beautiful books ie: - Ezra Jack Keats, Richardo Keens-Douglas, "Animalia" by Graham Base, "I Spy" by Scholastic Press

For children aged eight and older:

• picture books with more words and more complex stories
• fiction AND non-fiction
• fables
• riddles & jokes
• space & planets
• volcanoes & earthquakes
• family stories
• "Baby-sitter Club"
• dinosaurs
• wild animals
• pets
• bikes, cars & trucks
• world records
• sports
• world facts & maps
• optical illusions & magic tricks

Other suggestions:

Chose books that:

• have strong female and male characters
• have characters of all races
• are relevant to the child's world
• are fun to read aloud
• have just a few words per page for "Circle Time"
• are Canadian!
• are the most beautiful, colourful, and exciting!