Beyond Picture Books: Subject Access to Best Books for Beginning Readers

Here's an exciting new edition of a work that helps you to encourage independent reading skills in children ages 4 to 7, to develop your collection of first readers, and to plan thematic, literature-based programs. With a new user-friendly organization, this guide profiles some 3,750 of the best first readers published mostly within the past decade (with a few classic and benchmark titles included as well). These books feature lively interaction between text and illustration, and cover topics and themes with true kid-appeal. Every entry offers bibliographic information, a brief plot summary, and critical comments that help you make informed selection and programming decisions. Detailed indexes of titles, illustrators, series, and reading levels, in addition to the subject index, provide easy access to the books. PreK-3.

Here's a brand-new, extensively revised edition of the classic guide to first readers. Use it to encourage independent reading skills in children ages 5-8, to develop your collection for this age group, and to plan thematic literature-based programs.

With a user-friendly, subject-based organization like its companion guide to picture books, A to Zoo, this annotated volume profiles some 3,750 of the best books for emerging readers. First readers feature lively interaction between text and illustration, and cover topics with true kid-appeal.

Entries cover titles published mostly within the past decade (a few classic and benchmark titles are included as well). Each entry offers bibliographic information, a brief plot summary, and description of illustrations and other features to help you make informed selection and programming decisions.

A list of outstanding first readers, chosen for their exceptional language and treatment of subject, makes collection development easy, and four indexes - title, illustrator, series, and reading level - provide additional access points. Lexile levels are given where available, making this volume particularly valuable for reading teachers as well as for librarians and parents, and children in kindergarten through the beginning of third grade who are starting to read independently. A boon to librarians, teachers, and parents. PreK-3.

Barbara Barstow, retired Head of Youth Services, Cuyahoga County Public Library, is the author of previous editions of this book and has published articles in major professional journals. She was president of the Association for Library Service to Children (a division of the American Library Association) in 1990-1991 and has served as chair of the Newbery Committee (2006) and the Caldecott Committee (1999).

Judith Riggle is a storyteller, former children's librarian, and retired director of the Avon Lake Public Library, Ohio. She was named Ohio's Outstanding Librarian in her year of retirement. She is coauthor of previous editions of this book.

Leslie M. Molnar, Youth Services Assistant Manager and Selection Head at Cuyahoga County Public Library, is a former children's librarian and teacher. She has served as chair of the Association for Library Service to Children's Notable Children's Books Committee.