Abstract:
Thousands of books are published every year both in paper form and on-line. For a parent or a teacher who is new to the profession, relying on the classics or well-known authors is one way to ensure the books children are reading have literary merit. Yet not all books stand the test of time, and are these traditional choices appropriate for 21st century children? With such a plethora of material now available how can parents and teachers evaluate the material they are buying or reading to children? This chapter is not written for literacy specialists but rather for those who are keen to make informed book selection choices. It identifies key elements of quality contemporary children’s books and provides guidance for their assessment.
