Customer Reviews

Choosing Books for Children: A Commonsense Guide

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"The best children's writers say things to a five-year-old," writes Betsy Hearne, "that a fifty-year-old can also respect."
And enjoy.

In this encouraging and extremely helpful book, Hearne defines good literature, advises on how to select books for children, and gives examples in every case. She discusses reading aloud, junk books and how to find books that will be enjoyed not once, but repeatedly.

"There is one route around age categories -- reading aloud," she writes. "It's emotionally satisfying and leads the way to books a child will love reading alone."

Even after that child begins to read alone, reading aloud is a wonderful excuse to share some time and a hug or two. When children are small, though, a "aah" in an infinite variety of inflections defines their entire world, there's no better treat than the snuggle up with a baby and a book.

I encountered this year 2000 book in a children's literature discussion group in 2007. It is, as it says, mostly common sense accompanied, valuably, by suggestions of genres and titles. I was sorry it wasn't quite up to date anymore. I suspect what the book was doing through three editions is as well and more sustainably done on the Internet. The pitfall of course is that the web pitches mainly what's new whereas as children's literature, like any other, is something that accumulates great work over the centuries. Take Me With You When You Go

This is a great guide to selecting appropriate books for children. In addition, it is inspiring. Now I can't wait to read to and with my kids.