Why Age Matters When Choosing Islamic Books
The difference between board books, picture books and chapter books
Board books, picture books, and chapter books differ primarily in age appropriateness.
Board books are for babies and toddlers (under 5 year olds) and are made of durable cardboard with minimal text and bold illustrations.
Picture books (ages 4-10 years) have paper pages and use both text and illustrations to tell a story.
Chapter books are for independent readers (ages 7-12), featuring more complex plots, divided into chapters, and with text as the primary focus, often with limited illustrations.
How reading level and developmental stage influence book choice
A child’s reading level reflects their ability to decode words, understand vocabulary, and follow sentence structure. Choosing books that match their reading level helps children to build confidence in reading, develop their fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.
However, the developmental stage is about the emotional, cognitive, and social maturity of the child. Therefore, when selecting a book it is important to have a balance between what they can read and what they should read.
Understanding the Age Categories
Age categories aren’t strict rules. Think of age categories as guidance to help parents choose books.
A great approach is to choose books that fit your child’s:
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Reading confidence
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Emotional readiness
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Personal interests
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Life stage and experiences
Top Picks by Age Group (with examples)
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H3: Recommended Board Books (0-5) – what works, why
Three board books that we would recommend are:
These books have great visuals suited for young attention spans, simple and meaningful messages to support islamic learning and are fun to read!
Recommended Picture Books (5-10) – transition to reading
Three picture books that we would recommend are:
These books have strong themes centred around faith, values, belonging and learning about Allah and our Prophets (peace be upon them). They have beautiful illustrations and can be read over and over again!
Recommended Chapter Books (7-11) – early independent reading
Three chapter books we would recommended are:
These chapter books offer fun, relatable storytelling that keeps young readers engaged while strengthening their Islamic identity.
Recommended Teen Books (13-17) – engaging teens
Three Teen Books we would recommended are:
These three books offer powerful, emotionally rich stories that deepen understanding of faith, history, and human experience.
Recommended Adult/New Muslim Books – learning & reflection
Three recommendations for Adult/New Muslims are:
These books offer gentle, meaningful guidance for anyone deepening their relationship with Allah and our Prophet (ﷺ)
Choosing Books That Grow with the Reader
We have a selection of books that truly grow with the reader. Two essentials for every home bookshelf are My First Quran with Pictures: Juz' Amma Part 1 and My First Quran Translation With Pictures - Juz' Amma Part 2. Both books present Qur’anic meaning in a child-friendly, visual way that young learners can grasp, while still offering depth that older children can return to as their understanding matures.
Matching the book to the child’s current stage and next step
When choosing a book for your child, get them involved. Learn what they are interested in, find out what they want to learn and choose books together. This is a great way to bond with your child and helps to build that interest in reading. Then together choose books that match their current stage while gently guiding them to the next step