As a popular saying goes, the best companion of a person is a book. This saying is true for every one of us, and even for children that have extraordinary gifts and talents.
It has been proven over time that the books we read and immerse ourselves in go a long way to shape our thoughts and eventually make us who we are. Therefore, books for gifted children have to be specially selected.
Try: Harry Potter Boxset Books 1-7
The reason for this is quite lucid. A gifted child should be exposed to a book that will be of benefit and additional assistance to such a child. It should not be one that will stifle the natural gifts but one that will stimulate the senses and improve intellectual development.
Books for gifted children must not necessarily be written by geniuses, as long as they fulfill these needs.
In order to make an appropriate selection of books for gifted children, it is very important to first identify the child’s gifts. A child that is prodigiously talented in classical music will appreciate a book about operas rather than the one on soccer, which he or she may not like. Books for gifted children have to improve the child’s gifts.
Try: Best Stories for Six-Year-Olds (Enid Blyton’s Best Stories)
However, this does not mean that they must be prevented from reading outside their areas of strength. After all, little of everything is not a bad idea. Interestingly enough, in a case where the gifts have been identified, there are some ‘universal’ reading that can be bought for the gifted and non-gifted alike in order to stimulate mental development.
Try: The Mammoth Book of Sudoku: 400 New Puzzles – The Biggest and Best Collection of Sudoku Ever
These include games like sudoku, crossword puzzles, brainteasers, pub quizzes and many more. Fiction such as the Enid Blyton classics and Harry Potter series can prove quite helpful in stimulating the imagination and abilities for creative writing. Overall, gifted children should be encouraged to read any book they show interest in.