Books that are too long can be boring. Books with the wrong types of illustrations can scare children. The books you chose are important. Infants like books which can be mouthed and pulled without being ripped to pieces. Toddlers like books about things similar to their everyday experiences –family activities such as going to school, cleaning the house, taking the bus, riding a train, going to restaurants, going shopping. They also like animals, and thus stories about animals doing things like humans and wearing human clothes are usually appealing.

Preschoolers like books which include fantasy and imagination; princesses and superheroes are popular among preschoolers. All children like stories about families doing real everyday things. School-aged children have a well-developed sense of humor and therefore like funny or silly books sometimes.