Children's Books From Picture Books to Chapter Books and More
By Elizabeth Kennedy, About.com Guide to Children's Books
Reading aloud to your children continues to be important as they move from emergent literacy to beginning readers. Here you'll also find information about all kind of books, including picture books, chapter books and novels, books on a variety of subjects, fairytales, and folktales, to name a few.
Raising A Reader
Learn about some of the things you can do to encourage a love of books and reading and about some of the books and online resources available to assist you.
- 10 Resolutions for Parents
- The Read-Aloud Handbook
- The New York Times Parent's Guide to the Best Books for Children
- Books to Grow With
Fairy Tales, Folktales, and Fables
Fairy tales, folktales, and fables have been popular for centuries. Here you will find some excellent online resources, as well as some recommended children's books.
- Cinderella, Cinderella: Online Resources
- Grimm's Fairy Tales and Other Versions
- L. Frank Baum and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
- Hans Christian Andersen and his Fairy Tales
- The Wit and Wisdom of Aesop's Fables
Picture Books
A good picture book combines words and pictures to tell a story that will engage a child's interest. Most adults can still tell you their favorite childhood picture book. Here is an overview of some special picture books and the publishers who publish them, information about the top award in the U.S. for picture book illustration and some recommended children's picture books.
- The Randolph Caldecott Medal
- Maine Caldecott Winners by Robert McCloskey
- Little Golden Books
- Kane/Miller Children's Picture Book Publisher
Recommended Authors and Illustrators
You will recognize the names of a number of these talented authors and illustrators. Many of them have been writing and/or illustrating books for several generations. Do you recognize any authors or illustrators whose books you read as a child and your own children have also enjoyed them? You will also find the names of some new authors and illustrators that I hope to see creating children's books for years to come.
