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What Grade Level Should You Start Reading to Children?

When it comes to raising your children, one of the most important things you can do is find the right books for them. Not only will this expose them to a variety of stories and characters, but it will hopefully engage them while they read!

Even before your child can speak, they can show you what they’re interested in. Through their behavior, you can see if there are any age-appropriate books they enjoy. This will help you find the right material to expose them to, and it will assist you in keeping them interested in reading!

Based on this interest, you can start looking for books that are appropriate for their reading level. If they have a specific genre or character they love, use this information to guide your selection.

Not sure where to start? Here are some general suggestions to get you going in the right direction:

The Suits Them Best

Based on your child’s interests, you can narrow down the books you consider to read to them. If they love adventures and magic, you might want to start with The Hobbit or The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. These books are known for being funny as well as exciting.

For a more mature audience, you can read John Grisham’s The Firm or William Waddell’s The Mysteries of Pittsburgh. If they like animals and nature, consider Phyllis Gotlieb’s Flora, Fauna, and Fossil or Richard Sanders’s Island of Sheep.

The Classics

Start your search for books for children with classic works. These books are a great choice because they will stay popular for many years to come. For instance, you can read L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz or Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. These are such well-known stories that even adults will enjoy reading them to children!

The best part is that children will most likely enjoy reading these stories too. They will get to interact with the characters and learn something new every time they read.

However, this doesn’t mean the classics are easy reads. Carroll’s Alice is a fantastic example of a classic that is extremely challenging for young readers. The vocabulary is daunting, and some of the chapters can be quite difficult to understand. Still, these books are worth it!

Something Different

When you can’t find any suitable books based on your child’s interests, consider other options. You might want to look for a book that is different from what you normally read. This could be in terms of subject matter, but even more importantly, it could be in terms of reading level. For instance, you can read Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach or Mordecai Gerstein’s The Magic Paintbrush for children who are just learning to read. The stories in these books are fantastic, but the reading level can be a little higher than what they are used to.

This can often be the case when you are searching for age-appropriate books. Sometimes, it can be hard to find something that fits into your existing criteria. Still, the key is to continue searching until you find something suitable.

The Right Mix

Ultimately, you want to find books that are suitable for your child’s reading level. This means that you will need to consider both their interests and their ability. If they have a specific character or animal they want to learn more about, it might be difficult to find the right books. This is why it’s so important to pay attention to their interests and behaviors. From there, you can find the right books for them and decide whether or not they are a good fit.

It can be tricky to find the right books for children. If you’re stuck, ask for help from the library or bookstore. They should be able to advise you on what is available and help you find the right books for your child. 

Hopefully, this article will help get you started in the right direction and allow you to find the right books for your children. Keep in mind, though, that every child is different and has different likes and dislikes. This is why it’s important to see what interests your child and how they behave. With this information, you can find the right books for them and ensure they have the best reading experience possible!