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Board Books to Activity Books: Which Book at Which Age?
Ask a parent what books to buy and the honest answer is: it depends on the hands that will hold them. A book that fascinates a baby bores a preschooler, and a book a preschooler loves falls apart in a baby's grip. The format is the guide.
Which books suit a baby from birth to 12 months?
You can introduce books in the very first months. INSPQ's From Tiny Tot to Toddler guide suggests cardboard, cloth or plastic books, and points out that at first a book is a toy: your baby will put it in their mouth, throw it and hit it. You don't need to read the text; you can describe the pictures.
The Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) describes what to expect. Before 6 months, babies look at pictures and prefer pictures of people. Between 6 and 12 months, they reach for books, put them in their mouth and turn pages with your help. Because babies like to put books in their mouths, the CPS recommends sturdy board books.
What do toddlers look for in a book, from 1 to 3 years?
Toddlers want to do something with a book. Lift-the-flap, peek-through and buggy books reward that urge. The CPS notes that toddlers enjoy simple rhymes and predictable text with just a few words on each page, and that sturdy board books that are easy to carry around are best. Babies also love hearing the same story again and again: repetition helps them master it, so follow their lead. The CPS milestones include turning board pages several at a time between 12 and 18 months, then one at a time between 18 and 24 months.
When do sticker books and colouring fit, from 3 to 5 years?
The preschool years can be a good time to try sticker books. Peeling and placing a sticker asks for careful finger movements, while the pictures open a conversation. Colouring pads and water-painting books are another calm, hands-on option. Follow the age guidance printed on each book: sticker books contain many small pieces.
Mideer's Brain Game Book: Let's Stick Level 1 shown here is a cut-and-stick craft book: children cut out pictures and glue them in place, starting with simple backgrounds. Its listing gives an age of 3+, and its cover warns of small parts, not for children under 3. Health Canada advises supervising children closely during crafts, scissors and glue included.
Brain Game Book: Let's Stick Level 1
What do activity books add from 5 years?
Wordsearches, spotter's guides, doodling prompts, big books of facts: activity books turn a quiet moment into a small project. They travel well, they fill a rainy Sunday, and they let a child who cannot yet read fluently still use a book alone. Our rainy-day activities pair well with them.
The Usborne New Spotter's Guides: Flags shown here illustrates the flag of every independent country, with tips for recognizing them and key facts about the countries. It is written in English.
Are the books we carry in English or in French?
Mostly in English. Most titles in our Books collection are English-language editions, including the Usborne guide shown here, and their French product page says so (“en anglais”). That matters less than it seems for the youngest. INSPQ notes that you can describe the pictures instead of reading the text, and sticker and colouring books rely on pictures. It matters more for activity books with written instructions, such as wordsearches or crosswords: check that your child, or the adult helping, reads the language.
Where do these age bands come from?
The age bands above are a shopping guide, not developmental deadlines. For the first two years, they follow the early-literacy milestones of the Canadian Paediatric Society and INSPQ's advice on books; from age 3, they reflect the formats themselves, so follow the age printed on each book. Leave books within your child's reach and follow their interests. Explore our books, sticker books, colouring and drawing books and activity books.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start reading to my baby?
From the first months. The Canadian Paediatric Society says that learning to read starts from birth, as babies listen to voices and watch faces. INSPQ also notes that many libraries offer a free Books for Babies welcome kit (Une naissance, un livre).
Why board books instead of paper pages?
At this age a book goes in the mouth, gets thrown and gets hit. Thick cardboard pages hold up, and a toddler can turn them alone without tearing them.
Are sticker books actually educational?
Peeling and placing stickers asks for careful finger movements. Talk together about the pictures and themes so the activity also becomes a chance to use new words.
Can my child enjoy books in two languages?
Yes. The Canadian Paediatric Society suggests telling stories, speaking and singing in the language or languages easiest for you to have fun with, and notes that babies consistently exposed to two or more languages at home absorb all of them. Choose books you enjoy sharing.