How to Build a Children’s Book Collection: Tip One
(Alternatively titled: Avoiding the Grocery Store Variety)
When I was studying to become an elementary teacher my favorite college professor taught how to spot quality children’s lit and encouraged us to avoid the “grocery store garbage.” “Grocery store garbage,” she defined, are those books (usually containing popular cartoon characters) you can buy at the grocery store checkout.
Now I can’t say I 100% keep to this advice, especially since I have kids who love cartoons as much as anyone, however–I do strictly limit them.
Why avoid these books? I mean, a book is a book, right?
Unfortunately, not all children’s books are created equally, and I can honestly say from observing my own kids and their reading habits, after one reading–those cartoon characters typically end with the dust under the bed, while the books with strong literary elements (characters, plot), fun illustrations, or humor are the tattered, re-read books I find tucked in their beds at night.
While I don’t think there’s any harm in humoring the love of Dora or Thomas the Tank Engine a bit, overall, my tip {number one} in building a children’s book collection, is to stick to good stories rather than grocery store checkout selections.
Wow Pam you have your books sorted by color! The books look like a piece of colorful art that way. Suddenly, I’m rethinking my book cupboard where the books are thrown in there and I just always hope they wont fall out…..hmmmm, I think yours will look much more appealing to a child to grab a book!
Blessings,
Jenni
@Jenni Price, Haha. I’m SOOOO visual, so having them sorted by color appeals to me and makes it seem less messy. I don’t know, I’m weird I guess. 🙂
I think Dr. Suess’s work is literary. He pulled the “YOPP!” at the end of “Horton Hears A Who” from Walt Whitman’s “Song of Myself.” Suess’s books teach about reading, tolerance for others, speaking up, and many other things. Although movies have popularized the characters terribly, we love READING Suess with our kids.
this is great advise–we have 12 Gkids and they love to read.
Our library of childrens books are huge, I have been much followed by your tip except for Dr. Suess, we love him.
thanks for the tip.
@scrappingramma, Oh, Dr. Seuss is high on my list too! We love him and don’t really put his stuff in the “cartoon character” category, although a lot of his stuff has been turned into movies! See my husband’s comment below. 🙂