This comprehensive guide is based on the premise that books and reading are an essential part of every child's development. The guide lists and describes more than 2000 books for children from birth to age 14; from stories that babies can literally chew on, to the best choices for bridging the critical gap between listening and reading, to the right books to tempt an adamant non-reader, and more. The guide features in-depth reviews, concise ratings, handy cross-references by theme and interest, and a family reading journal. There are also essential hints and advice to help the user pass along the gift of reading to the next generation, such as matching the child to the book; using moments besides bedtime to incorporate reading; accepting books children will love to read and facing up to books they will hate; judging children's ability to distinguish between fantasy and reality; and developing a child's attention span with books. Following an informational introduction, the guide is divided into: Part One--"Books for All Ages"; Part Two--"Books for Very Young Children"; Part Three--"Books for Children of Reading Age"; Part Four--"Books for Children in Middle Elementary Grades"; and Part Five--"Books for Middle School Readers and Young Adults." Appendix One is titled "Tricky Situations and Frequently Asked Questions"; Appendix Two is titled "Themes." (NKA)