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Which book to give a child: a guide by age

From board books to young adult: which kind of book suits which age, what the Dutch AVI reading levels mean and which first books make a good gift.

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Short answer: Choose a book that matches what the child can do. Up to 3, that is a board book with sturdy pages; up to 6, a picture book to read aloud; from 6 to 9, a book at the child's AVI reading level; and after that, the first book of a series. If you don't know the AVI level, ask the parents.

Lisezo doesn't review books itself. The ages below follow how our children's books are grouped; the titles are classics and series in our catalogue now, mostly Dutch editions. The AVI levels are as Cito, the Dutch testing institute, describes them.

0 to 3: board books

For babies and toddlers there are board books: thick cardboard pages that a small child can turn and that can take a knock. Many have little text and big, clear pictures, sometimes with holes, flaps or something to touch.

Well-known books for this age are Rupsje Nooitgenoeg (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) by Eric Carle, with the holes the caterpillar eats through, and the Dikkie Dik baby book by Jet Boeke, both from Gottmer. Lemniscaat makes a Little Bear baby book, and there are many books about Miffy (Nijntje), Dick Bruna's character, such as Nijntje gaat naar de dierentuin from Rubinstein. There is more under baby and toddler books.

For babies and toddlers

4 to 6: picture books to read aloud

Young children can't read yet, but they love listening to a story. A picture book has a big drawing and a few sentences on every page. A read-aloud book collects many short stories, one for every evening.

Examples are De Gruffalo (The Gruffalo) by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler from Lemniscaat, Max Velthuijs' Frog books such as Kikker en de vreemdeling (Frog and the Stranger) from Leopold, and Jip en Janneke and Het kleine Annie M.G. Schmidt voorleesboek, both from Querido. See also picture books and reading aloud.

6 to 9: learning to read with AVI

At primary school in the Netherlands, children learn to read with AVI levels. Cito describes them as Start, M3, E3, M4, E4 and so on up to E7 and Plus. The letter stands for the point in the school year, M for middle and E for end, and the number for the school year group (groep). A child halfway through groep 3 reads at roughly M3.

A book at the right level is one the child reads alone without it getting too hard. The level is on the cover or in the title, as with Mie en Mol in de boom (AVI Start), the Grote AVI-boeken from Zwijsen and Vampierkracht (AVI M5). Many children also like a series at this age, such as Dolfje Weerwolfje by Paul van Loon or De grote Mees Kees by Mirjam Oldenhave. See first readers and AVI.

Reading aloud and reading alone

9 to 12: longer books and series

Around this age many children read whole books on their own. The first book of a series makes a handy gift: if it goes down well, there are more. Examples are Dagboek van een muts (Dork Diaries) by Rachel Renée Russell and De GVR (The BFG) by Roald Dahl, both from De Fontein. Look under children's books 9 to 12 too.

If the child is a reluctant reader, an audiobook can help, or a book with lots of drawings such as Dork Diaries.

12 and over: young adult

For teenagers there are young adult books: stories about young people, often in a series. Heartstopper 1 by Alice Oseman is a graphic novel about two boys at school, from Van Goor. De Hongerspelen 1 (The Hunger Games) by Suzanne Collins is set in a cruel future world, also from Van Goor. Boekerij publishes Crave 1, a romantic fantasy. See young adult; when in doubt, read the back cover or the publisher's age advice.

For 9 to 12 and teenagers

Tips for the gift

  • Ask what the child already has. With a series, you don't want to give the book that is already on the shelf.
  • Look at the edition. Many books come as a hardback, paperback, e-book and audiobook. A hardback is sturdier for young children.
  • Read the description. The book page shows the publisher's description. All titles are under children's books.

Frequently asked questions

Which book do you give a baby?

A board book with sturdy pages and big pictures, such as the board book of De grote kleine walvis. Classics such as Rupsje Nooitgenoeg (The Very Hungry Caterpillar) come in several editions; the description says which one is a board book.

What does AVI M4 mean?

That the book suits a child reading halfway through groep 4. M stands for middle, E for end of the school year, and the number for the year group.

Which book suits a 10-year-old?

The first book of a series the child can read alone, such as Dork Diaries, or a classic like Roald Dahl's The BFG.

From what age is young adult?

Lisezo puts young adult at 12 and over. For some titles the publisher gives a higher age; it is on the back cover or the publisher's website.

Keep looking

Lisezo does not review books. This guide sets out the facts.

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