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Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely essential for every family
Review: As a former bookseller and librarian, I was often asked by confused parents and grandparents for book suggestions for children of a particular age. This wonderful book belongs on every family's bookshelf, not only because it will suggest the next good book to read, but because it gives a tantalizing look at the stories behind each book--and that always makes reading more fun. You're sure to find your own favorites here, as well as books you haven't come across. Even if you've read every one of these books, you'll enjoy the chatty tone of the book descriptions. I couldn't put the book down!Looking for a book to give a new parent? A new grandparent? Think of this gift first--because you're expressing the importance of reading for another family. More importantly, buy it for yourself ... and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely essential for every family
Review: As a teacher and grandmother-to-be, I am glad to have this book. It will be so helpful when recommending or purchasing books for the pre-schooler as well as the older reader. The stories behind the stories are so interesting! The reading journal at the back of the book is a clever addition! Thanks for the GREAT RESOURCE!
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Summary: Great Resource for students, parents and teachers!
Review: As a teacher and grandmother-to-be, I am glad to have this book. It will be so helpful when recommending or purchasing books for the pre-schooler as well as the older reader. The stories behind the stories are so interesting! The reading journal at the back of the book is a clever addition! Thanks for the GREAT RESOURCE!
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Summary: Something Great For Your Family!
Review: I can't stop looking at this book! There are three kids in our family and this book offers wonderful reading suggestions for every age and then books to think about for the future. I don't want them to miss the exciting reading experience of any of the treasures in this list. More than just a reference, though, this book is fun to read and makes me feel like an insider! Now I can share not only the best books with my children, but the stories behind the books! Get this book and do something great for your family!
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Summary: Every home should have a copy of this book
Review: I sat down and read this book from cover to cover. It was fascinating. Not only was it fun to see if I agreed with Ms. Silvey's choices for best books, but there is so much behind-the-scenes information here, I felt enticed to read or re-read each of the books on her list. Every parent, grandparent, teacher, and librarian will find this book not only useful but inspirational.
Rating: 
Summary: Banal, mediocre at best
Review: Obviously any book that claims to tbe the hundred best of any genre of books is an automatic target for potshots from committed readers. But this book is a fatter target than most.
Any children's librarian at any public library, and any bookseller at an independent bookstore, will give a parent far more help than this, and for free. Some of the choices are so obvious that it's sad to waste space on them -- what parent really needs to be told about Pat the Bunny?
As to the overall selection of books, let's just say it's banal and uninteresting and leave it at that. Some of the choices are obvious sops to political correctness -- viz. Johnny Tremain. And any book claiming to list the 100 best children's books that doesn't include a single title by Arthur Ransome does a major disservice to parents trying to buy good books for their children.
Save the price of the book and just spend a few minutes with a preschool or elementary school teacher, a librarian, or a good bookseller.
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Summary: if you love children's books........
Review: This book operates on many levels, in ways that I had not initially expected. Althought not a parent, I dearly love to buy books as presents for the various children in my life. Thus I bought this book to help me find suitable books to give for Christmas, birthdays, etc. The minute I started to read this book(which is full of charming anecdotes and history about the writing and illustrating of many childhood favorites, as well as about a number of more contemporary books with which I was not familiar), I realized what a wonderful resource it would be for new parents. I have now given it to 3 friends/family members with children, as well as to another friend who is halfway through writing and illustrating her first children's book. Finally, as an aging "baby boomer" myself, I can enjoy reading it to wax nostalgic over my own favorite childhood books. All in all, a very satisfying book, for a variety of reasons. Enjoy it!
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Summary: Don't miss it!
Review: This is a delightful book, filled with treasures for the reader, be s/he parent, librarian, writer, or fan of children's literature. Through lots of research and her extensive knowledge of the field, Silvey relates the stories and anecdotes behind some of the greatest books of our time. Readers will discover that Robert McCloskey fed ducks wine so he could sketch them for MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS, that Brian Jacques of REDWALL fame went to the same school as Paul McCartney and George Harrison, and that THE STORY OF FERDINAND was censored by Franco and Hitler--but accused of promoting fascism in the US.
Here also are wonderful details of how much work, creative and editorial, goes into the making of a book that will stand the tests of time, rereading, and children's requests for "just one more chapter." Buy this and use it, forgetting about the ephemeral celebrity books now crowding the racks of your local superstore. Best of all, it's lots of fun to read. Terrific supplemental lists, too!
Rating: 
Summary: Okay, not very creative or interesting choices
Review: This list is pretty standard, I think a trip to the chinaberry catalog or website would provide much better suggestions. Many of the stories included are classic. The author included a good amount of text describing each of the stories suggested. But in the last few years some amazing children's stories have been written that I think are much better, especially for the younger crowd in the board book and picture book category. We have an amazing collection of children's literature, but as I am always looking for more, I took this book out of the library and I was very disappointed. In our collection of thousands of books for my children, we have 15 of the suggested titles. My suggestion, go to chinaberry on the web and go from there.
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Summary: Stunning resource for anyone who loves kids!
Review: When I first saw this book, I was expecting a list and not much more. But the depth and research that went in to this book is extraordinary! Anita Silvey even knew most of the authors and illustrators for these books personally - you can't get much closer to the sources than that! A delight to read, and full of insightful, delightful historical information and personalized anecdotes, this book would be a perfect addition to anyone's bookshelf, no matter what age!
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