Final answer:
Books for beginning readers should be selected with care, focusing on clear and simple text, repetitive patterns, and engaging content rather than just word count. High-quality, supportive illustrations, and books that expand vocabulary in context, are also key to developing a love for reading.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is especially important that books selected for beginning readers are engaging and accessible. The notion that a book should have less than 100 words may be an overly simplistic way of looking at the criteria for early reading materials. Instead, the focus should be on having clear and simple text, age-appropriate content, and supportive images that enhance comprehension without being distracting.
Key considerations for selecting books for young readers include a balance between text and illustrations, the use of repetitive patterns to support word recognition, and including words that are familiar to the children's everyday lives. Additionally, the richness and quality of language in a book are more important than the quantity of words. It is vital to encourage a love for reading by choosing books that can maintain a child's interest and stimulate their imagination.
Of course, the process of expanding vocabulary is important, and children should gradually be introduced to new words in context. This aim should not be at the cost of making reading a chore; if a book is too challenging, it risks discouraging the child. Teachers and parents should ensure that young readers have positive experiences with books, paving the way for a lifelong passion for reading.