How to Find the Right Book for Your Age 0 to 5 Child

High Five keeps parents and children coming back to Chandler Public Libraries! High Five is an early literacy promotion that introduces five key concepts: Talk, Sing, Read, Write, and Play. Read on to learn how to select the best age-appropriate book for your age 0 to 5 child!

 Infants – age 0 to 1

For the infant age group, it’s best to keep it minimal and simple! The best types of books to select for this group would be board books that have minimal text and high-contrast colors: bright colors or black and white.

Look, Look Outside!
A baby bird looks outside the window and discovers all the interesting things to see! This book is high contrast with black and white images with hints of green.

Tiny Bear Can, Too!
Another favorite with interactive flaps. This story follows a tiny black bear who meets various animal friends that teach him all the things he can do!

Hug Machine
A heartwarming story about a boy known as a hug machine. The illustration in this endearing story helps little ones identify objects and interactions in the outside world.

 Toddlers – age 1 to 3

For toddlers, it’s best to select books that encourage participation and movement! Rhymes and repeated words, with only 1-2 sentences per page, are also helpful for this group since they have limited attention spans.

Zap! Clap! Boom!
A rhyming scheme will be sure to capture this crowd’s attention! The short text per page allows toddlers to keep their focus on the story and follow it to the end.

Llama, Llama Red Pajama
A classic toddler read! These rhymes are sure to keep the little ones entertained while teaching concepts and sounds of words.

Preschoolers – age 3 to 5

At this age, it’s best to select books that encourage interaction and conversation. These techniques can range from singing or making animal noises to clapping and keeping rhythm. The repetition helps with recognizing patterns and builds confidence!

Book That Almost Rhymed
An absolute must! This adorable story follows a brother and sister duo who are trying to tell a story that somewhat rhymes.

This is Baby
The story takes the reader through parts of a baby from the head to the toes! It is a great way to keep preschoolers engaged, practice conversation, and build confidence when they correctly identify these concepts.

The Day I Lost My Superpowers
This story of a superhero in training explains how you too can be a superhero and do magic tricks like making all your food disappear (except for vegetables, of course).

Visit our Ages 0-5 page for more great reads!

- Brittany (Downtown)