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Rating: 
Summary: The title says it all!
Review: A girlfriend sent Babies Need Books to me when my son was already six months old - thankfully we had been reading to him since his birth - but Dorothy Butler's facts, anecdotes and recommendations only served to strengthen our commitment to reading as a family. Now 17 months old, our son routinely brings us books, sits in our lap and waits for us to begin reading. Friends and family members have commented on his behaviour and deemed it exceptional for his age - not according to Dorothy! The reviews that indicate the recommended reading lists are out of date are missing the point in my mind. Yes some of the books are not easy to find, but we have found almost all of them, and the concepts contained therein are the meat of the lists in any event. A must have for people hoping to impart a love of reading to their children.
Rating:
Summary: Babies need books
Review: I have to disagree with the reviewer who wrote that this book is "Great on theory; poor research on books", October 26, 1999. Dorothy Butler first became interested in children's literature while teaching English at a secondary school. All the books reviewed in "Babies need books" have been read to her 8 children and then her 17 grandchildren over many many years. Dorothy Butler's selection has nothing to do with theory but years of reading aloud to children. Many of the books reviewed have become classics. Most out of print can be found at a good library. If you love reading to your children this is one book I'd definitely recommend.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Guide that Won't Overwhelm You! Her Selections Work
Review: Reading "Babies Need Books" is almost like having a conversation with a sage older neighbor or friend. Unlike tomes that list 20 billion books for each age group, this guide
pares down the selections for the 0-6s into brief and chatty chapters that get you excited about reading. It's nice to read a guide that's personal, filled with annecdotes and opinions. But best of all, her picks work! Without fail, every book I've read that Butler reccomends has been a hit with my child. While it is true that many of the books are on the older side (it would be wonderful if there was a new edition), I have to say, I kind of like that fact that some of the books are off the beaten path. I could find most of them at Amazon or in the library, and their sometimes retro illustrations and antiquated language make them all the more interesting. I think it's good for kids to see different visual styles as well as to hear different types of language use. Butler is also not afraid to give opinions on what not to read (see her comments on Richard Scary and "educational" books). For these reasons, and others, I give "Babies Need Books" an enthusiastic 5 stars!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Guide that Won't Overwhelm You! Her Selections Work
Review: Reading "Babies Need Books" is almost like having a conversation with a sage older neighbor or friend. Unlike tomes that list 20 billion books for each age group, this guide
pares down the selections for the 0-6s into brief and chatty chapters that get you excited about reading. It's nice to read a guide that's personal, filled with annecdotes and opinions. But best of all, her picks work! Without fail, every book I've read that Butler reccomends has been a hit with my child. While it is true that many of the books are on the older side (it would be wonderful if there was a new edition), I have to say, I kind of like that fact that some of the books are off the beaten path. I could find most of them at Amazon or in the library, and their sometimes retro illustrations and antiquated language make them all the more interesting. I think it's good for kids to see different visual styles as well as to hear different types of language use. Butler is also not afraid to give opinions on what not to read (see her comments on Richard Scary and "educational" books). For these reasons, and others, I give "Babies Need Books" an enthusiastic 5 stars!
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