Books can feel like the perfect gift for a child right up until one thought stops you: What if they already have it? That question gets harder when you're shopping for a child who loves to read. A grandchild with a packed bookshelf may own dozens or even hundreds of books, and unless you live in the same house, there is no reasonable way to remember all of them. Learning how to choose books for a child when you don't know what they already own isn't about finding some magical

Buying books for a child sounds simple until you are standing in front of hundreds of choices trying to figure out which ones are actually right for their age. A book that is perfect for a four-year-old may feel too young a year or two later. A confident eight-year-old might be ready for chapter books while another child the same age still loves illustrated stories. Teen readers bring an entirely different set of interests, maturity levels, and preferences into the equation.