A library trip isn't an errand. It's a treasure hunt with no wrong answers.

Let the kid wander. Let them pull books off shelves based on the cover (that's literally what adults do). Let them pick too many — the library doesn't charge by the pound. Don't hover. Don't redirect. Don't say "how about something a little harder?" The goal is for the library to feel like a place where they have power, choices, and unlimited free books.

Pro tip: many libraries let kids get their own library card starting at age 5-6. The card itself is a milestone — a physical object that says "I am a person who reads." Kids who have their own library card use it. The ownership matters.