Reading is simply the best way to keep children engaged in a fun activity and chase away those lockdown blues during this pandemic. Not only is reading fun, but it is the best way to help children gain basic literacy skills and to boost their creative and imaginative side.

Combat Summer Reading Loss

This year, the usual summer reading programs in most schools have been postponed or canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So, parents must try to make up for that by reading with their kids at home. 

Indeed, children are at risk of falling back on reading due to prolonged school closures and forgetting the reading skills they learned at school.

So, parents need to step in to curb that reading loss by choosing a wide variety of books for their children to read at home. See the list of best picks for each age group down below to select the right books for your kids.

Spotting A Good Storybook For Young Readers

To help you further, we also decided to list down the characteristics of a good childrens’ book so that you can quickly spot an excellent storybook to take home to the kids. We suggest you go for books that contain some text, but it should be balanced by meaningful illustrations and pictures.

Do not go for books that contain only words, as these can often make it hard for young children to concentrate for long. 

So, they definitely won’t enjoy these books, as reading will just become a chore and not a fun activity. Seriously, avoid these books if you want to teach reading habits in your kids and develop a love of books.

Best Picks For Each Age Group

Here is a list of this year’s best picks according to age and reading ability:

• But Not the Hippopotamus by Sandra Boynton ( for children aged 2-5)
• Go, Dog, Go! by P.D. Eastman ( for children aged 3-7)
• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendack (for children aged 4-8)
• Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall (for children aged 4-8)
• A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat (for children aged 8-12)
• The Hero Book Series by Jerald L. Hoover (for children aged 12-18)

Honestly, you could hand any of these great books to your kids to get them reading independently, but we would also suggest that you read aloud to them. Doing this will develop the child’s language skills and strengthen the bond between you and your kid.

Concluding Thoughts

Reading is an essential skill that all young children must learn, which is why parents need to choose good storybooks for their kids during this pandemic to keep honing their reading skills even if schools are closed.