Read with Me: Best Books for Preschoolers

Zvirin has selected and annotated more than 300 books for adults to enjoy with preschoolers. She made her choices by talking to librarians as they compiled their lists of "best books" as well as by using blogs and listservs. She purposely does not suggest well-known classics such as Goodnight Moon in order to draw attention to titles published in the last decade. Her organizational plan is centered around common themes, running the gamut from books about "ME" to families, friendships, and make-believe. The annotations are thoughtful, yet casual and chatty, pointing out the reasons why children would enjoy a particular title. While Jim Trelease has long been recognized for his choices in his Read-Aloud Handbook (Peter Smith Pub., 2006), he covered a much wider age range and included many chapters with information about literacy and fostering the love of reading. Update a professional collection with Zvirin's book or hand it to new parents as a guide to their child's early listening and reading adventures.—Blair Christolon, Prince William Public Library System, Manassas, VA