How to Choose Children's Fiction Books for Adults

There's no better gift than a book when it comes to long-lasting entertainment that can be savored repeatedly and almost anywhere the recipient chooses. A particularly enjoyable and ageless type of book is children's fiction. The strong characterizations and imaginative, interesting plots are often capable of bringing joy to even the oldest readers. As a result, children's fiction books can be therapeutic and amazing stress busters for adults. Here's how to choose one for an adult.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

1. Determine what type of books the recipient usually enjoys. If you're not familiar with her reading habits, consider the kinds of television shows or movies she prefers. Chances are if someone enjoys a particular genre in one entertainment format, they'll enjoy the same genre in another form of entertainment.
2. Visit the children's fiction section of a bookstore or the library and browse the area where the genre you're looking for is located. Skim the titles and authors, making a mental note of any that jump out at you. This step can also be completed online if the bookstore or library has an Internet database or catalog.
3. Decide which age level is best for the adult who will receive the book if the bookstore or library groups children's books by age level (for example, picture books for ages 3 and younger, easy readers for ages 4 to 8, middle grade for ages 9 to 12, and young adult for ages 13 and up). Although picture books might seem too young for grown-ups, the striking images and simple prose are often very soothing and inspiring to some people.
4. Familiarize yourself with the general pool of available books and then ask a salesperson or librarian to identify those children's fiction books in the preferred genre that are most popular among children.
5. Ask a salesperson or librarian to recommend those children's fiction books in the preferred genre that they believe every child should read if you're still undecided.
6. Refer back to the titles and authors that stood out when you first reviewed the available books if you remain unsure which book to select. Then choose one that you would want to read yourself or that you have read and enjoyed in the past.

Tips & Warnings

• When giving a children's fiction book to an adult who doesn't normally read children's literature or who doesn't read at all, try to emphasize the beneficial aspects of reading one to encourage the recipient to try something new. Reduced stress through laughter, expanding one's horizons, looking at the world from a different perspective, and taking a mental break from adult problems are all excellent reasons for adults to read fiction written for children.
• If the recipient decides not to read the book, don't take it personally. Maybe one day in the future they'll come across the book again and decide to try it out then.