What's the best way to choose a book for a gifted child? One easy way is to go to the children's section of a bookstore and pick out one of the latest bestsellers. Unfortunately, gifted children don't always find those bestsellers particularly interesting. Another way is to ask a clerk for the section with books for a certain age group, for preschoolers, for example. Unfortunately, some preschoolers are reading like eight year olds. Here are some things to consider shopping for a new book.
Reading Level
One of the primary considerations for choosing a book for a gifted child is the child's reading level. A three-year-old child who is reading at the level of an eight-year-old will not be interested in reading books meant for three-year-olds. Even children who are not yet reading on their own sometimes appreciate the language level of books meant for older children. When in doubt, pick an advanced level. Children will eventually catch up, but if the level is too low, the book will remain unread.
Age
Age is an appropriate consideration only in terms of subject matter. Although a gifted eight-year-old may be reading on the level of a fourteen-year-old, that eight-year-old is not dealing with the kind of adolescent issues a fourteen-year-old is dealing with. They are not dealing with the struggle for independence or sexual identity. Not only may these subjects be inappropriate for a young child, they also won't be of much interest. Young children won't be able to relate to the issues.
Child's Interests
Gifted children, even at very young ages, can have some strong interests. Getting books about those interests is a good way to nurture them. For example, a child may be fascinated by the weather. Look for books about the weather. Books, even for these young children, are available on virtually every topic. Even cute, interactive books, like pop-ups, are available on numerous topics, including the weather. Finding them may require some searching, but the searching is worth the effort.
Fiction vs Non-Fiction
Many gifted children prefer non-fiction to fiction books, even preschoolers. Gifted children who love the universe will love books that teach them about planets, space, and constellations. Children who love art may also enjoy books about famous painters. Biographies, in fact, are favored by a quite a few gifted children. Favorite types of fiction include mysteries, but fiction based on a child's interests, books with dinosaurs for dinosaur lovers, for example, will interest a gifted child.
