The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud - Hardcover

Schulman, Janet

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0679886478 ISBN 13: 9780679886471

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers, 1998

Synopsis

Unparalleled in scope and quality and designed for reading aloud and sharing, this splendid anthology brings together some of the most memorable and beloved children's books of our time. Here are classics such as Madeline and Curious George; contemporary bestsellers such as Guess How Much I Love You and The Stinky Cheese Man; Caldecott Medal winners such as Make Way for Ducklings and Where the Wild Things Are; and family favorites such as Goodnight Moon, The Sneetches, Winnie-the-Pooh, and Alexander & The Terrible, No Good Very Bad Day, soon to be a motion picture.

The selections range from concept books and wordless books to picture books and short read-aloud stories, and represent the complete array of childhood themes and reading needs: ABCs, number and color books, stories about going to bed and going to school; tales about growing up, siblings, parents, and grandparents; animal stories, fantasies; fables; magical stories; stories about everyday life--and more.

This beautiful edition includes a recommended list of books published in the time since this anthology's original compilation, including Caldecott Honors Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! and Olivia, with descriptive annotations intended to guide parents to these new books and new voices of the 21st century. Also included are an introduction from editor Janet Schulman, capsule biographies of the 62 writers and artists represented in the collection, color-coded running heads indicating age levels, and indexes. As a gift, a keepsake, and a companion in a child's first steps toward a lifelong love of reading, The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury belongs in every family's bookcase.

About this title

About the Author

JANET SCHULMAN worked in children's book publishing as an editor and an author for more than 40 years. She also compiled an anthology of classic stories of the 20th century, You Read to Me & I'll Read to You.

From the Back Cover

In the eight years since this blockbuster anthology of 44 classic picture books of the 20th century was compiled, important new picture books have been published that Janet Schulman believes are too good to miss. She has selected 15-some by brand-new voices of the 21st century, some by young authors and illustrators who were just getting started during the last decade of the past century, and a few by familiar names, such as Kevin Henkes with his 2005 Caldecott Medal Winner. This recommended list with descriptive annotations is intended to guide parents to these new books and new voices of the 21st century.
Unparalleled in scope and quality and designed for reading aloud and sharing, this splendid anthology brings together some of the most memorable and beloved children's books of our time. Here are classics such as "Madeline and" Curious George; contemporary bestsellers such as "Guess How Much I Love You and "The Stinky Cheese Man; Caldecott Medal winners such as "Make Way for Ducklings and "Where the Wild Things Are; and family favorites such as "Goodnight Moon, "The Sneetches, and "Winnie-the-Pooh. The selections range from concept books and wordless books to picture books and short read-aloud stories, and represent the complete array of childhood themes and reading needs: ABCs, number and color books, stories about going to bed and going to school; tales about growing up, siblings, parents, and grandparents; animal stories, fantasies; fables; magical stories; stories about everyday life--and more. Also included are an introduction, capsule biographies of the 62 writers and artists represented in the collection, color-coded running heads indicating age levels, and indexes. As agift, a keepsake, and a companion in a child's first steps toward a lifelong love of reading, "The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury belongs in every family's bookcase.

From the Inside Flap

Unparalleled in scope and quality and designed for reading aloud and sharing, this splendid anthology brings together 43 of the most memorable and beloved children's books of our time. Here are classics such as Madeline and Curious George; contemporary bestsellers such as Guess How Much I Love You and The Stinky Cheese Man; Caldecott Medal winners such as Make Way for Ducklings and Where the Wild Things Are; and family favorites such as Goodnight Moon, The Sneetches, and Winnie-the-Pooh. The selections range from concept books and wordless books to picture books and short read-aloud stories, and represent the complete array of childhood themes and reading needs: ABCs, number and color books, stories about going to bed and going to school; tales about growing up, siblings, parents, and grandparents; animal stories, fantasies; fables; magical stories; stories about everyday life--and more. Also included are an introduction, capsule biographies of the 62 writers and artists represented in the collection, color-coded running heads indicating age levels, and indexes. As a gift, a keepsake, and a companion in a child's first steps toward a lifelong love of reading, The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury belongs in every family's bookcase.  

Reviews

PreSchool-Grade 4-Forty-four selections fill this shiny, heavy compendium, gathered to encourage parents to develop the reading-aloud habit. Most are well-known picture books, but there is a short story by Joan Aiken, a chapter from Winnie the Pooh, and stories from books in beginning-to-read series. Goodnight Moon, a small set of Helen Oxenbury's board books, a Berenstain Bears entry, and other short pieces for the very youngest children are mixed with Stellaluna, The Stinky Cheese Man, Madeline, and older and newer favorites quite disparate in size and design. Some appear in spacious spreads, similar to their original formats. Others are compressed with great chunks of text and few pictures or several pages of the original full-length version stacked on a single page, diminishing details, colors, or the delicious moments of humor, drama, or innuendo. Gone are most of the illustrations for Millions of Cats, and Richard Egielski's Tub People have lost their unique patina and pose in these minuscule renderings. Though much is lost in the translation, the treasury does indeed offer an eclectic variety of good stories, and many children might encounter new favorites here. Concluding biographical notes on the authors and illustrators, a listing of the stories by three age categories, an index, and acknowledgments of original publication details complete the package.
Margaret Bush, Simmons College, Boston
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Ages 3^-8. Like The Candlewick Book of Bedtime Stories (1995), this anthology of picture books is for parents, and it's a quick reference for librarians and storytellers. Editor Schulman knows and loves children's books, and she has chosen 44 landmark titles and provided a fine introduction for parents and biographical notes on each author and artist. The extra large size volume has thick paper and lots of space. The problem is that picture books are not short stories. Their illustrations are not just decorative additions. They are integral to the story, and when they are reduced and rearranged, the individual book's essential rhythm and drama are lost. Even with the fine reproductions from the classic Where the Wild Things Are (1963), the smaller size of the pictures totally tames those crosshatched beasts. And where's the surprise of turning each page and finding a changed world? What's the point of reducing Wanda Gag's Millions of Cats (1928) to three pages of solid text with just four pictures? How can Shirley Hughes' simple board books be shared with toddlers when there are lots of small pictures on one page? However, the choices are excellent, and this is a fine introduction for those new to children's books to browse before they find the original picture books in the library and ask for more. Hazel Rochman

Edition details

• Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0679886478
• ISBN 13: 9780679886471
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 320