Choose books with bright, happy colors and big pictures. Young children are visual and respond to bright primary colors and big pictures which bring out their emotions and stimulate their imagination.
Choose books written in rhyme or books that use repetition. Young children love rhyme and repetition and want to hear the stories again and again and say aloud the repetitive phrases themselves. This type of book teaches the rhythm and flow of language.
Choose books that your young child will especially love and that fit his personality. For example, if your child is crazy about dogs, it goes without saying that he will love dog-related books. Likewise, if your child loves cars, he will especially enjoy stories with cars in them. At this young age, many children love to learn about objects and animals.
Choose books that deal with an issue that is important to both you and your child at the moment. For example, if you're potty-training your child, consider choosing books related to potty training. These books, often humorous, will both entertain and educate young children.
If you have a favorite publisher in mind, subscribe to their free monthly newsletter. All major publishers in the United States, such as Harper Collins, Hachette, Penguin and Simon and Schuster publish multiple children's books every month and have newsletters. Subscribing to these newsletters is an effective way to keep informed of what's being released each month.
Check your favorite online book retailer. If you search on Amazon.com for "Children's Books/Baby-Preschool" you will get a list, sorted by relevance, of hundreds of titles in this category. What's more, you'll also be able to read the reviews to help you decide whether the book is appropriate for your child.
Read children's book review sites and blogs. The Internet is a rich resource when it comes to review sites—find thousands of kid lit bloggers online. For a helpful list, visit Kidlitosphere.org. Fuse #8 Production is a well-known and respected kid lit blog written by a New York City librarian (see Resources below).
Ask a librarian or bookstore owner. This is the best step to take if you're not sure about appropriate titles for preschool children. Often librarians and booksellers are knowledgeable in their field because they regularly read reviews and keep up with industry's journals.
Read "School Library Journal." This is the number-one resource for librarians and booksellers when it comes to children's books. It showcases the latest book releases nationwide by both big and small publishers and offers succinct, honest reviews. You may visit their website to subscribe to their free newsletter. You may also read a print copy at your local library.