Great Books for Babies and Toddlers : More Than 500 Recommended Books for Your Child's First Three Years

Rating:
Summary: Helped this new father...
Review: I used this book to build a 100+ library of books for my 17-month old daughter. There are so many children's books available that a guide like this is indispensible for distinguishing between them. This guide pointed me towards some fantastic books and authors that I would not have encountered by simply browsing my local library or bookstore. Some examples of fantastic authors that my daughter and I love whose books were recommended by this guide include Frank Asch, Pat Hutchins, Eve Rice, and Patricia Hubbell.

Rating:
Summary: Eh, not so hot.
Review: I was left vaguely unimpressed by this volume. I found equally good tips on how to read to babies and young children in the Chinaberry book catalog (quite a resource in itself), and the books' annotations are not always as complete and well-researched as other reviewers have claimed--often the author failed to mention sequels or related works. This book might be a good purchase for a new parent or children's librarian, but for an under-threes early childhood teacher, I would recommend _Story S-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s for Infants, Toddlers, and Twos_ by Shirley Raines et al.

Rating:
Summary: Wow, what a resource!
Review: If you have ever wondered whether all books for babies and toddlers are created equal, then wonder no more. Kathleen Odean has done all of the footwork for parents of young children and for youth services librarians responsible for collection development in this area, with this well-researched and annotated guide to the best of the best. Also included are tips on reading aloud, activities with books, books in Spanish and so much more, all to ensure that the maximum benefits are derived from the recommended literature. This is certainly an acquisition that leaves no room for regret.