Know What Your Child Is Reading

Not every book is right for every child. Children mature at different rates. They have different interests, reading abilities and life experiences. Librarians, while glad to share their expertise, believe that decisions about what materials are suitable for particular children should be made by the people who know them best - their parents or guardians. The American Library Association offers the following tips to help parents guide their childrens reading and library use: Allow your kids to explore the public library and remember that children and teens are naturally attracted to materials intended for them. They are generally not attracted to materials that are too advanced for their reading or maturity levels. Provide clear guidelines for your children. Let them know there are subjects or areas that you prefer be off limits and explain why. Get to know your public and school librarians. Librarians know best what is in their collections and are experts at selecting materials for children of varying ages, interests and abilities. Introduce your children to the librarian and encourage them to seek hisher guidance. The American Library Association and many local libraries publish helpful lists of award-winning childrens books and other guides to good reading for children from babies to teens. Have a special shelf at home for library materials and take time to familiarize yourself with them. Review all reading lists sent home by classroom teachers. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to discuss them with the librarian or teacher. He or she may be able to provide an alternative for your child. Talk with your children about what they are reading. This will give you insight into their special interests and concerns. If you feel a book or other item is inappropriate, take the opportunity to express your concerns in a nonjudgmental way. Remember that reading is not the same thing as doing. Many young people seek information from libraries that they are embarrassed or are afraid to ask an adult. A factual book, unlike hearsay from friends, can ease their fears or may keep them safe from harm. Learn more about how to evaluate childrens books. Most libraries provide books and brochures with guidelines about what is appropriate and appealing to various ages. Read book reviews and review materials yourself to determine if they are appropriate for your child. In this articleGood Books For Kids A Good Place To StartAges 6-8Ages 9-12Ages 12-14All AgesGood Books For Kids: A Good Place To Start Every childs life should be filled with books-at home, at school, in the library-to share with a parent or caregiver, to read, to learn from, and to enjoy. The following list, prepared by the Association for Library Service to Children(ALSC)/Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC) Joint Committee some of the best, most fun and most inspiring books available today for children. Ask your librarian or bookseller for more good books like these. For more good books, videotapes, recordings and other childrens resources recommended by the Association for Library Service to Children, click here. Ages 6-8 Allard, Harry and James Marshall MISS NELSON IS MISSING Cameron, Ann STORIES JULIAN TELLS Cleary, Beverly RAMONA books Cole, Joanna and Bruce Degen MAGIC SCHOOL BUS series Cooney, Barbara MISS RUMPHIUS Flournoy, Valerie and Jerry Pinkney THE PATCHWORK QUILT Fox, Mem WILFRID GORDON Mc DONALD PARTRIDGE Gardiner, John R. STONE FOX Hoffman, Mary and Caroline Binch AMAZING GRACE Lobel, Arnold FROG AND TOAD series Parish, Peggy AMELIA BEDELIA Steptoe, John MUFAROS BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS Van Allsburg, Chris JUMANJI White, E.B. and Garth Williams CHARLOTTES WEB Wilder, Laura Ingalls LITTLE HOUSE series Ages 9-12 Alexander, Lloyd PRYDAIN CHRONICLES Atwater, Richard MR. POPPERS PENGUINS Babbitt, Natalie TUCK EVERLASTING Banks, Lynne Reid THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD Blume, Judy ARE YOU THERE, GOD? ITS ME, MARGARET Burnett, Frances Hodgson THE SECRET GARDEN Coerr, Eleanor SADAKO AND THE THOUSAND PAPER CRANES Cooper, Susan THE DARK IS RISING Freedman, Russell ELEANOR ROOSEVELT George, Jean Craighead JULIE OF THE WOLVES Juster, Norton THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH LEngle, Madeleine A WRINKLE IN TIME Lowry, Lois NUMBER THE STARS MacLachlan, Patricia SARAH PLAIN AND TALL Taylor, Mildred ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY Ages 12-14 Avi NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH Avi THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE Cole, Brock THE GOATS Cormier, Robert THE CHOCOLATE WAR Frank, Anne THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL Jacques, Brian REDWALL series Lee, Harper TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD Magorian, Michelle GOODNIGHT, MR. TOM Myers, Walter Dean FALLEN ANGELS Myers, Walter Dean FALLEN ANGELS Paterson, Katherine JACOB HAVE I LOVED Paulsen, Gary HATCHET Salinger, J.D. THE CATCHER IN THE RYE Staples, Suzanne SHABANU Tolkien, J.R.R. THE HOBBIT All Ages Aesop AESOPS FABLES Andersen, Hans Christian HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSENS FAIRY TALES Anno, Mitsumasa ANNOS JOURNEY Cohn, Amy, ed. FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA: A TREASURY OF FOLKLORE AND FOLK SONGS DAulaire, Ingri and Edgar P. DAULAIRES BOOK OF GREEK MYTHS Durell, Ann, ed. THE DIANE GOODE BOOK OF AMERICAN FOLK TALES & SONGS Hamilton, Virginia THE PEOPLE COULD FLY Kennedy, X.J. TALKING LIKE THE RAIN Macaulay, David THE WAY THINGS WORK Milne, A.A. WINNIE THE POOH Prelutsky, Jack THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK Prelutsky, Jack RANDOM HOUSE BOOK OF POETRY FOR CHILDREN Robinson, Barbara THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER Silverstein, Shel WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS Singer, Isaac Bashevis ZLATEH THE GOAT AND OTHER STORIES

Not every book is right for every child. Children mature at different rates. They have different interests, reading abilities and life experiences. Librarians, while glad to share their expertise, believe that decisions about what materials are suitable for particular children should be made by the people who know them best - their parents or guardians. The American Library Association offers the following tips to help parents guide their children's reading and library use:

1. Allow your kids to explore the public library and remember that children and teens are naturally attracted to materials intended for them. They are generally not attracted to materials that are too advanced for their reading or maturity levels.
2. Provide clear guidelines for your children. Let them know there are subjects or areas that you prefer be off limits and explain why.
3. Get to know your public and school librarians. Librarians know best what is in their collections and are experts at selecting materials for children of varying ages, interests and abilities.
4. Introduce your children to the librarian and encourage them to seek hisher guidance. The American Library Association and many local libraries publish helpful lists of award-winning children's books and other guides to good reading for children from babies to teens.
5. Have a special shelf at home for library materials and take time to familiarize yourself with them. Review all reading lists sent home by classroom teachers. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to discuss them with the librarian or teacher. He or she may be able to provide an alternative for your child.
6. Talk with your children about what they are reading. This will give you insight into their special interests and concerns. If you feel a book or other item is inappropriate, take the opportunity to express your concerns in a nonjudgmental way.
7. Remember that reading is not the same thing as doing. Many young people seek information from libraries that they are embarrassed or are afraid to ask an adult. A factual book, unlike hearsay from friends, can ease their fears or may keep them safe from harm.
8. Learn more about how to evaluate children's books. Most libraries provide books and brochures with guidelines about what is appropriate and appealing to various ages. Read book reviews and review materials yourself to determine if they are appropriate for your child.

Good Books For Kids: A Good Place To Start

Every child's life should be filled with books-at home, at school, in the library-to share with a parent or caregiver, to read, to learn from, and to enjoy. The following list, prepared by the Association for Library Service to Children(ALSC)/Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC) Joint Committee some of the best, most fun and most inspiring books available today for children.

Ask your librarian or bookseller for more good books like these. For more good books, videotapes, recordings and other children's resources recommended by the Association for Library Service to Children, click here.

Ages 6-8

Allard, Harry and James Marshall	MISS NELSON IS MISSING
Cameron, Ann	STORIES JULIAN TELLS
Cleary, Beverly	RAMONA books
Cole, Joanna and Bruce Degen	MAGIC SCHOOL BUS series
Cooney, Barbara	MISS RUMPHIUS
Flournoy, Valerie and Jerry Pinkney	THE PATCHWORK QUILT
Fox, Mem	WILFRID GORDON Mc DONALD PARTRIDGE
Gardiner, John R.	STONE FOX
Hoffman, Mary and Caroline Binch	AMAZING GRACE
Lobel, Arnold	FROG AND TOAD series
Parish, Peggy	AMELIA BEDELIA
Steptoe, John	MUFARO'S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS
Van Allsburg, Chris	JUMANJI
White, E.B. and Garth Williams	CHARLOTTE'S WEB
Wilder, Laura Ingalls	LITTLE HOUSE series

Ages 9-12

Alexander, Lloyd	PRYDAIN CHRONICLES
Atwater, Richard	MR. POPPER'S PENGUINS
Babbitt, Natalie	TUCK EVERLASTING
Banks, Lynne Reid	THE INDIAN IN THE CUPBOARD
Blume, Judy	ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT'S ME, MARGARET
Burnett, Frances Hodgson	THE SECRET GARDEN
Coerr, Eleanor	SADAKO AND THE THOUSAND PAPER CRANES
Cooper, Susan	THE DARK IS RISING
Freedman, Russell	ELEANOR ROOSEVELT
George, Jean Craighead	JULIE OF THE WOLVES
Juster, Norton	THE PHANTOM TOLLBOOTH
L'Engle, Madeleine	A WRINKLE IN TIME
Lowry, Lois	NUMBER THE STARS
MacLachlan, Patricia	SARAH PLAIN AND TALL
Taylor, Mildred	ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY

Ages 12-14

Avi	NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH
Avi	THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF CHARLOTTE DOYLE
Cole, Brock	THE GOATS
Cormier, Robert	THE CHOCOLATE WAR
Frank, Anne	THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL
Jacques, Brian	REDWALL series
Lee, Harper	TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD
Magorian, Michelle	GOODNIGHT, MR. TOM
Myers, Walter Dean	FALLEN ANGELS
Myers, Walter Dean	FALLEN ANGELS
Paterson, Katherine	JACOB HAVE I LOVED
Paulsen, Gary	HATCHET
Salinger, J.D.	THE CATCHER IN THE RYE
Staples, Suzanne	SHABANU
Tolkien, J.R.R.	THE HOBBIT

All Ages

Aesop	AESOP'S FABLES
Andersen, Hans Christian	HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN'S FAIRY TALES
Anno, Mitsumasa	ANNO'S JOURNEY
Cohn, Amy, ed.	FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA: A TREASURY OF FOLKLORE AND FOLK SONGS
D'Aulaire, Ingri and Edgar P.	D'AULAIRES' BOOK OF GREEK MYTHS
Durell, Ann, ed.	THE DIANE GOODE BOOK OF AMERICAN FOLK TALES & SONGS
Hamilton, Virginia	THE PEOPLE COULD FLY
Kennedy, X.J.	TALKING LIKE THE RAIN
Macaulay, David	THE WAY THINGS WORK
Milne, A.A.	WINNIE THE POOH
Prelutsky, Jack	THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
Prelutsky, Jack	RANDOM HOUSE BOOK OF POETRY FOR CHILDREN
Robinson, Barbara	THE BEST CHRISTMAS PAGEANT EVER
Silverstein, Shel	WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS
Singer, Isaac Bashevis	ZLATEH THE GOAT AND OTHER STORIES