When children first visit a public library the experience can be somewhat daunting. They are faced with row after row of books and displays. Sudden panic can set in. Where will they start? I remember questioning my own son, many years ago, as to why he didn’t bring home books from his school library. He replied that there were too many books; he didn’t know which one to choose. I’m sure he’s not the only child to have had a similar experience.

Children need the guidance of an adult when learning new skills and choosing an appropriate library book is definitely a skill. I suspect many adults avoid libraries for the same reason - they don’t know where to start. You want to encourage your children and grandchildren to use the library from a young age, so it’s important not to have them put off by overwhelming experiences.

Visit the library

The first step to take is to visit the library with your children. Take them to the children’s section and let them explore under your watchful guidance. Being able to wander around and investigate, with no strings attached, will give them confidence when they come to choosing books. It will also give them a good idea what is available and where.

Look at the library displays. Take time to show them the signs indicating where things are, where and how to look up information and catalogues on the computer and where to get books issued. Explain any library rules to them so that they understand expected behaviours. Spend time sitting and sharing a variety of books each time you visit, so that they’re introduced to an ongoing range of new material.

How to choose an appropriate book

Once familiar with the library, children will want to choose their own books. Having been introduced to what is available, they will have some idea of what they want. Never criticize children’s reading material choices. You want them to be positive readers. But, if you think the material they’re choosing isn’t quite right for them, here are some points they should think about as they make their choices.

Firstly, look at the title and the cover, deciding whether or not these appeal. Maybe they have a favourite author they have read before, or have heard teachers or other children talk about.

Open the book and look at the contents page, if there is one. Chapter headings in a fiction book or chapter contents in a non-fiction book give a good indication of what the book could be about.

Flick through the pages, some at the beginning of the book, some in the middle and some at the end. Is there the right amount of print on the page for the reader to cope with? Do pictures illustrate non-fiction books? Are the pages set out in a readable manner? All these things count towards a books appeal for a child.

Then, the child should read a little. Is the text interesting? Is it too difficult or too easy to read? One easy way of testing if it is at an appropriate independent reading level is to count the mistakes made when reading a page. If the reader makes more than one error in every twenty-five words, it is probably too difficult for that child to read independently.

Of course, children want to read all the latest books, whether they can do so by themselves or not. If they insist on borrowing Harry Potter even though their reading has not yet reached that stage, borrow it anyway. Then, share the book with them, you reading some, as well as letting them read short passages they can manage.

Children are never too young to borrow books from the library. If you make the time to teach these few skills to your children, they will look forward to their weekly visits and come home armed with enjoyable reading material.

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