When I worked in children’s services, I would often get asked, "What’s your favorite storytime age?" I always had a hard time answering this question because I enjoyed programming for and working with children of all ages.
If you asked me that question today, I’d probably say toddlers, because for the past few months, I have been working on a new Learn with NoveList course about readers’ advisory for toddlers (more on that in just a moment!) and falling in love all over again with this exciting, adorable, and sometimes exhausting stage of life. The course is all about working with toddler readers and their caregivers and matching them with books that meet their unique interests and needs. And that got me thinking.
At NoveList, we use our story elements to talk about and describe books. Story elements apply to books for all ages, but which elements are the most interesting for toddlers and their caregivers? Does any of that vocabulary need to be rephrased when working with younger readers? Of course, NoveList is way ahead of me and has everything you need to find a just-right book for each toddler, caregiver, educator, and librarian.
Let’s go through each of the different story elements and look at them from a toddler’s point of view.
Appeals
Appeals help readers determine why they enjoy a book and whether a particular book will fit their style. You can use appeal to find books based on the type of character you like, the pacing or tone, or even the style of illustration. Toddlers may enjoy stories where the characters are Mischievous, Spirited, Sympathetic, or Anthropomorphic.
Funny books may be especially appealing to young readers, and toddler books can be anything from Funny to Gross, to Amusing, or Darkly humorous. These kinds of books can also be great read-alouds for storytime. My favorite books to share in storytime tended to fall in the humor category.
Toddler books can also be Sweet, or Whimsical. These are often the books that make us grown-ups go “awww” or get teary-eyed. They may naturally lend themselves to explorations of the world or provide a launching point for larger conversations about life and family. They can also be good suggestions if someone is looking for a special book to give as a gift.
Picture book illustrations are a crucial set of appeals for young readers. The pictures are often what draws them into the story! Picture book illustrations can be Textured, Lavish, or Realistic. If you’re looking for books to share with a group, such as a storytime or daycare class, books with Big and bold or Colorful illustrations work well whereas Detailed illustrations can be great for poring over pictures in a one-on-one reading. You may lean towards one type of illustration or another, based on how or where the books will be shared.
Themes
Themes are the (sometimes) hard-to-define elements of a book that hook a reader. They broadly summarize key plot points.
For children, themes often relate to a specific life experience such as becoming an older sibling, moving to a new neighborhood, or starting school. Caregivers may ask for books to help welcome new babies, say goodbye to loved ones, or talk about emotions. In that case, you may find a theme, like the ones below, that helps find what they are looking for.
Themes are great fodder for displays and reading lists since they are topics that are commonly asked about.
Genres
I heard someone say once that young children use the picture book section almost like nonfiction. They are looking for subjects or topics, but not necessarily genres. So we don’t talk about picture books as having genres like fantasy, or mystery.
But there are general kinds of books that toddlers are interested in or that caregivers may look for. At NoveList, we consider these more library helpers or pro-tips than genres, and they are helpful ways to group books. Things like Stories in rhyme, Bedtime stories, Noisy stories, Books for quiet time, Books for audience participation, and Storytime standouts all fall into this group.
NoveList lesson: There’s a perfect story element for each reader.
For more tips on working with toddlers check out the full course, and many more, available exclusively through the Learn with NoveList Subscription. Throughout the course, you’ll hear, not just from me, but from several amazing children’s services staff who will share their expertise and some of their favorite books for toddlers. You'll learn where to start when recommending books for toddlers, for the adults who care for them, and for educators in your community. We’ll also share some tips you can use to help you select great books to share in toddler programs.
Lauren Campbell is a NoveList librarian. She is currently reading Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis.
