The best way to instill a love of reading in any child is to read to them from a very young age. Studies show that the earlier you start reading to a child, but especially in kindergarten, the higher the chance that they develop an enthusiasm for reading and education that continues for a lifetime.
Reading with children provides the perfect opportunity for bonding, while subtly introducing them to literacy, numeracy, and life skills. Because this time together is so important, it is essential to know what types of books are age-appropriate so that story time is both fun and beneficial.
When Do Children Develop A Love Of Reading?
Although reading to your child from birth assists in brain and language development, the perfect age for children to engage and develop a love of reading is ages three to five. This is the age at which children start to:
- Recall the names of their favorite books
- Hold a book correctly
- Turn pages carefully
- Recall words and phrases from their favorite books
- Know the difference between a squiggle and a letter or number
- Pretend to read books
What Kind Of Books Do Kindergarten-Age Children Enjoy?
By the age of five, children should equate books with fun and relaxing, bonding time. At this age, they usually love to participate in the story and anticipate what will happen next. As they age, books are less dominated by pictures and contain more text.
Types of books that kindergarten-age children enjoy include:
Fairy Tales
Magical in nature, these books contain fictional characters like:
- Giants
- Princes and princesses
- Wicked witches
- Dwarves
- Dragons
- Fairies
- Mermaids
- Talking animals
They make excellent read-out-loud stories and provide ample opportunity for using different voices.
Rhyming Stories
Kindergarten children love books with repetitive words and rhyming language. They enjoy them even more when read in a sing-song voice. These types of books allow children to make predictions about the next words or actions, thereby encouraging language development and imagination.
Educational Books
The main aim of this genre is to teach children about:
- Numbers
- Letters
- Colors
- Shapes
They also teach kindergarten children life skills such as sharing, kindness, and honesty.
Five Books That Kindergarten Children Love
There are innumerable books available for this age group. Kindergartners will love any age-appropriate book if it is colorful, interesting, and read to them by an enthusiastic reader. Here are five books that most kindergarten children never tire of:
- ChickaChicka Boom Boomby Bill Marbin Junior & John Archambault. This book falls into the rhyming category.
- The Lion And The Mouseby Lesley Sims. This is a retelling of one of Aesop’s Fables.
- Can You Make A Scary Face? by Jan Thomas. This is a wonderful book that encourages the child to interact with the characters.
- All About Weatherby Ma Huda Harajali.A colorful book that teaches children about weather patterns.
- I Can Be Kindby Amy Carlson. A favorite with parents and kindergarten teachers alike, this book illustrates the importance of kindness.
Enroll Your Child At Tamarac’s Most Notable Kindergarten
At JLP Inspiring Minds we believe in the importance of child-centered education. We encourage creativity, personal development, and self-confidence in a positive learning and growing environment. Want to know more about the programs we offer? Contact us at 954-933-2982 or visit our website today.