Selecting Books For Children: Prepared By: Ronlie RJ A. Espeleta

Selecting Books for
Children
Prepared by: Ronlie RJ A. Espeleta
Selecting Books for Children
O Good book selection not only requires a
thorough knowledge of children and their
individual needs, interests, and abilities, but
likewise demands an equal understanding
of the field of children’s literature.
O A teacher must have an understanding of
children; their needs, desires, thoughts,
interests, and abilities.
O Teachers must know when to give a book, a
story or a poem to a child or a group of
children according to the degree of
understanding of which a child or group is
capable of.
O The ability to understand is the result of
intelligence, of experience, and of
environment.
O A teacher must know that among the children
of school age, pleasure from reading books is
dependent upon skill in reading.
O If a selection is suitable and interesting in
content, but too difficult for a child to read for
himself, the teacher should read it to him.
O One must choose books that are simple enough
for the child to read himself and as the child
grows in reading ability, the teacher must
provide books adapted to his developing skill.
O The six years of elementary school are the most
crucial period of the child’s life. This is the time
when the child will establish reading habits that
will prevail through high school and adult life.
O A good elementary school reading program
should provide for two inseparable and
interdependent ideas;
1.) the development of readings skills, and
2.) the encouragement of reading pleasures.
O Books are source of information, comfort and
pleasure for people who know how to use them
and how to choose them. We must know two
facts:
- A book is a good book for children only when he
enjoys it
- A book is a poor book for children, even when
adults rate it as a classic, if children are not able to
read it and enjoy it.
O A teacher must not only know a variety of books

in many fields, their virtues and limitations, but
he must also know the children for whom they
are intended -- their interests and needs.
Certain Basic Needs for
Children as well as Adults
1. Material Security – It embraces everything that
gives him comfort and well-being. The old fairy
tales were told by people who seldom had enough
to eat or to keep them comfortable. So the tales
were full of splendid palaces, rich clothes, and
sumptuous food.
2. Emotional Security – the need to love and to be
loved. Stories of home life are popular with
children of all ages.
3. Intellectual Security -- the need to know things
more accurately. One must realize that the keener
a child’s intelligence, the wider his intellectual
curiosities. Books full of information on various
subjects – birds, plants, domestic and wild
animals, other land, airplanes, jets, rockets, are
available in readable, accurate, and well-
illustrated books. Dictionaries and Encyclopedias.
4. The Need to Achieve – to do or be something
worthy of respect. Autobiographies and
biographies appeal to children. Stories about
adventure, the mystery and career stories are
popular with children.
5. Need for Recreation and Diversion – fairy tales,
stories of adventure and romance are examples.
Books of laughter help dissolve fear and tensions.
6. Need to Belong – to be a part of a group.
Stories about family life, the school, his
community, his country and later about the world
about him. Children not only need to belong to
their own group but, to identify themselves
warmly and sympathetically with other groups and
people. Children should read books about people
of other races, creeds or nations which are
honestly and appealingly presented.
O The publication of an increasing number of
books for children increases the difficulty of
book selection and at the same time,
emphasizes the need of good book
selection.
O We must not rely on upon the choices of
children for they are not born with good
taste in literature but they must be guided in
their choices.
Criteria for Book Selection
1. Fiction
2. Biographies
3. Informational Books
4. Reference Books
Fiction
1. Theme
O the theme of the books reveals the author’s

purpose in writing the story. It is the idea of
the story, the meaning behind the story.
O The theme of the book might be the love of
animals, the feeling of belonging to others
and acceptance of self, the achievement
through difficulty or overcoming fear.
Fiction
O the theme should be worth imparting to
young people and should be based upon
justice and integrity.
O The theme or purpose of the book should be
interwoven into the structure of the book
naturally through the vents in the story and
the development of the characters. Children
avoid preachy, moralizing books.
Fiction
2. Plot
O The plot is the plan of story; it tells what the

characters do and what happens to them.
O It is the action of the story built around a theme.
O The plot should develop through action and
incident, rather that through detailed
descriptions or character delineation.
O Children crave suspense and action in their
stories. The plot should be credible and well-
constructed.
Fiction
3. Quality of Content
O Aside form the plot, the quality of content of

the book must be examined.
O The story must be worth telling or reading.
O Is the story appropriate to the experience
and background of the children for whom it
is intended?
Fiction
4. Characterization
O The character in the story whether they are

people or animals should be convincingly
real or lifelike.
O The characters should be so depicted that
everything they do, think, and say seem
natural and true.
O They should act and speak in accordance
with their age, culture, and educational
background.
Fiction
O There must be growth and development in
personality of the characters. This
development of his character is made clear
as he solves his problems.
O The change should be gradual and
convincing rather that swift and unrealistic
Fiction
5. Style
O The style of a book refers to the manner or the

way the author has written it.
O Every author has his own writing style. A good
writing style must be appropriate to the plot,
subject, theme, and characters of the story.
O The author must present the story clearly and in
a simple manner that is easily understandable
O The dialogue should be natural and suited to the
characters.
O It should be well-written
Fiction
6. Format
O The physical aspect of the book must also

be considered.
O The binding must be durable and practical,
one which can withstand frequent use and
handling.
O The quality of paper must be considered as
well, it must not be very white but creamy in
color.
Fiction
O Typography is also important; the type
should be large enough for easy reading.
O The space between the lines should be wide
enough to make the text clear.
O The margins should be simple, usually larger
at the bottom than at the top.
O All of these factors should create an
attractive appearance of a book.
Fiction
7. Illustrations
O The illustrations for a picture book are as

important as the text.
O Children prefer colored pictures.
O The illustration should be appropriate to the
text.
O Large pictures are preferred to small ones.
Fiction
O Beautiful and satisfying books for children
result form a combination of three arts – the
art of writer; the typographer, and the
illustrator.
O The text is the author’s expression of life.
O The typography and formatting calls for
imagination and insight.
O The illustration may expand and enrich the
author’s meaning and add to the enjoyment
of children.
Fiction
8. Other Considerations
O How does this book compare with other

books on the same subject?
O How does it compare with other books
written by the same author?
O Does it appeal only to few children or does it
have an appeal to greater number of
children?
Biographies
O The same criteria for fiction books may be
used for biographies.
O A biography should be true to all facts
known about the subject’s life.
O The hero of a biography must be a real-life
hero, with real faults, weaknesses, and
doubts.
O Biographies for children should be about
heroes of action and deeds.
Informational Books
O Books that are particularly concerned with

facts should be accurate, easy to read and
understand, adequately treated, well
presented, in such a way that it will be easy
to find what one is looking for.
Reference Books
O Dictionaries and Encyclopedias -- as soon

as children can read, they should have
reference books of their own.
O When they start asking questions, they
should learn how to look up information for
themselves.
THE END
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Selecting Books for

O A teacher must not only know a variety of books

O the theme of the books reveals the author’s

O The plot is the plan of story; it tells what the

O Aside form the plot, the quality of content of

O The character in the story whether they are

O The style of a book refers to the manner or the

O The physical aspect of the book must also

O The illustrations for a picture book are as

O How does this book compare with other

O Books that are particularly concerned with

O Dictionaries and Encyclopedias -- as soon

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

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