Behind the counter: how we buy an old library
A day with the buying team, sorting a retired professor’s 2,000 books in Shyambazar.
Choosing a first picture book for a three-year-old
Short text, big pictures and something to point at: what to look for, and what to skip.
A good first picture book is one a child asks for again. At three, that usually means a simple story with a pattern they can join in with, and pictures with plenty to point at and name.
Look for books with fewer than 400 words, where the pictures carry part of the story. Thick pages or a board cover help, since books at this age are carried around and sometimes chewed. Read a page in the shop; if it is awkward to say aloud, it will be awkward at bedtime.
Stories from a child’s own world work best: a grandmother, a tram, a street dog, a rainy day. Bilingual books, with an English text and a few Bangla or Hindi words, are good for children who hear two languages at home.
Skip books with flashing sound buttons and cartoon characters. They are bought for children rather than by them, and are usually set aside within a month.
