How to…

Choose Library Material for Your Children

How to…Choose library materials for your children

Our library collections include books that appeal to a wide range of tastes, needs and values, but not every book is appropriate for every child. Children’s interests and abilities vary widely, and maturity and comprehension increase at different rates in each child.  Librarians throughout our library system will share their knowledge of children’s literature with you, but it is extremely important that you be involved in your children’s library use.  Here are some ideas to help you select books that are right for your children.

·        Read the jacket of the book for information on its content.  Some publishers of children’s books even include reading levels on the flap or back cover.

·        Spend a few minutes reading several passages from different parts of a book to determine if the book is appropriate for your child.

·        Use published reviews to find out what others thought of the book.  You can easily locate book reviews by searching the Books In Print database that is accessible on the Booksellers & Publishers page of the library’s Information Gateway at hcplc.org

·        Tell the librarian what books your children enjoyed, and ask for recommendations of similar titles.

·        Let your children know what subjects or parts of the library you consider to be off limits for them.  Then let them explore in the areas you feel are appropriate.

·        Encourage your children to discuss the books they are reading.

·        Share your favorite childhood books with your children.

For more information

The library offers many useful resources to help you select good books (and videos) for your children.

Reading Lists:

The Reading Lists section of THOR, the library’s online catalog, provides easy access to selected materials for children and teens.  Included are award winners, lists by grade level, and other selected school lists.

Information Gateway:

Click the Information Gateway button on the library’s Web page at hcplc.org to access several databases useful for selecting children’s material:

Books In Print (located under Booksellers & Publishers) is a great place to find reviews, and other information about books and authors.

NoveList (located under Fiction & Literature) is an extensive database for fiction books for all ages.  You can find books similar to ones your children like, create reading lists by age and theme, and much more.

Other Web Sites:

The Just for Kids section on the library’s Web page provides links to many great sites.  Browse the NOT Just for Kids and Reading & Books pages to learn more about selecting material for children.  Some of the most useful sites include:

·         Association for Library Service to Children – Awards Page

·         The BookHive

·         Carol Hurst’s Children’s Literature Site

·         The Children’s Literature Web Guide

·         Children’s Software Revue

·         Fairrosa Cyber Library of Children’s Literature

·         Screen It! Entertainment Reviews for Parents

Books:

You may also want to browse some of these books to help you make your selection.

J 011.62

BEST

1998

John T. Gillespie, editor. Best books for children: preschool through grade 6, 6^th edition.  1998.

028.5

CHILDREN

2001

Anne Price and Juliette Yaakov, editors.  Children's catalog, 18^th edition.  2001.

011.62

HEARNE

1999

Betsy Gould Hearne. Choosing books for children: a commonsense guide, 3^rd edition.  1999.

011.62

ANSELL

Janis Ansell.  What do children read next?: a reader’s guide to fiction for children.. 2001.