Have you been to the bookstore lately? I bet you have found, like me, the sheer number of choices of books to be overwhelming – both for adults and for kids. Sometimes I am unable to make a decision about where to even begin looking. Have you ever purchased a book for your children or students only to discover that while reading it, you are nearly bored to tears? Well, if you find it difficult to get through the book, so will the children. The truth is that, while reading to them, adults should be equally as entertained as kids.

Just because a book is available in the store for you to buy, does not mean it is worth the money. It’s hard not to notice just how HUGE book stores are these days. Shelves need to be stocked, and stores are always looking for new titles. Many books make excellent choices, but many more are merely mass marketed.

So how do you prevent wasting precious cash buying children’s books that are not going to thoroughly entertain you and young readers? The top methods for picking the right books are:

1.Ask Someone – The best way to choose a book is to ask others for a recommendation. Kids, parents, store clerks, librarians and teachers will be happy to tell you what they enjoy reading the most.
2. Get on the Internet – There are many great sites that review books for kids. My favorite are www.midwestbookreview.com, www.readerviews.com and www.thereadingtub.com.
3. Chose the Right Subject – Select a book with a topic you know will interest the reader.
4. If it is a picture book, make sure the illustrations are bright and fun to look at, and browse through the book to see if they actually tell the story on their own.

Once you find a good book, your children will want to read it over and over again. And a book like that is one of the best investments you can make.

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