The Ultimate First Book Guide
by Leonie Flynn, Daniel Hahn & Susan Reuben (Editors) with introduction by Julia Donaldson
This is an outstanding book!
As stated in the blurb on the back cover of this book, the number of children's books available can be overwhelming. This book reviews over 500 books for children aged 0-7.
It is laid out in three categories, 0-2, 2-5 and 5-7. Within each section there are subgroups such as board books, picture books, novelty books, non-fiction, etc. Each book review includes a picture of the cover, a clear description of the story or content, and the opinions of the guide's editors.
The editors are all highly experienced in children's literature: Daniel Hahn is an author, curator, translator and teacher; Leonie Flynn is a librarian at a boy's school and Susan Reuben is a publisher and editor.
The books cover a broad spectrum of styles and ages, from old favourites such as Jemima Puddleduck and Alice in Wonderland, right up to present day authors including Jacquiline Wilson, Tony Ross and Michael Rosen. There are books of which many people will have heard, and others that are considerably less well-known.
I believe this would be a useful guide for anyone wanting to encourage their child's reading, or for teachers and other professionals working with children's literature.
There are helpful articles in the book such as "What to do if your child doesn't like reading" and "How teachers will teach your child to read".
If you try one of the books suggested and find that your child enjoys it, there are cross references to other books that might also appeal.
As a primary teacher myself, I cannot praise this book highly enough for its content. The layout is very easy to follow, colourful and clear. I will certainly be using it to support the reading of the children in my classes, as well as in extending the reading books for my two year old twins.
This book was written to support the 2008 National Year of Reading and I am sure it will.