How to Choose Fantasy Books for Your Kids

Children of all ages love fantasy books, from simple fairy tales to complex "sword and sorcery" stories. Here are a few things to look for when selecting fantasy books for your kids.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Children's Books

1. Consider your child's comprehension level. Read a few pages from the middle of each book you are considering to see if the material seems to be within your child's scope of knowledge.

2. Consider your child's sensitivity level. Some children are much more disturbed than others by negative aspects of the books they read, so if your child is easily frightened or has a tendency to see monsters under the bed, think carefully about the type of fantasy you will bring home.

3. Decide how much violent content is OK. Many fantasy books for older children contain "sword and sorcery" material ' there are battles, and characters may get killed. Decide what is appropriate for your child's maturity level by reading some of the book in advance, or by talking to other people who have read it.

4. Ask a children's librarian for suggestions. While the librarian may not have read all the books you are considering, he or she will be able to tell you which fantasies are popular with which age groups, and may tell you about books or authors you are not familiar with.

5. Consider fantasy books written for a general audience ' not just for kids ' as your children get older and their tastes become more sophisticated. Works such as "The Lord of the Rings" fall into this category, although most children are ready to read Book One ' "The Hobbit" ' long before they are ready to read the other books in the series.

6. Look for award-winning books. Newbery and Caldecott award-winning books are usually excellent, and other organizations reward excellence in children's literature from all genres.

Tips & Warnings

• If your children enjoy fantasy, they may also appreciate science fiction. Offer them a few titles that may interest them. Time travel and other "soft" science fiction may be more to the taste of fantasy-lovers than "hard" science fiction involving space travel and lots of gadgets.
• Children who like to read fantasy often enjoy history and mythology as well. Find an abridged or children's version of Greek, Norse, Celtic or Arthurian myths for them to try out.
• If your children refuse to read anything other than fantasy, you shouldn't worry ' it doesn't mean they are losing touch with reality. A healthy, active imagination should be encouraged as much as possible.
• If you have any doubts about the suitability of a book for your children, read it before you give it to them. This will prepare you to answer any questions they may have about the book, too.