The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury: Picture Books and Stories to Read Aloud

This impressive collection of concept books, wordless books, picture books, and read-aloud stories was artfully compiled by longtime children's book editor and publisher Janet Schulman. Stories are coded red, blue, and green to designate age groupings from baby/toddler books such as Whose Mouse Are You?, through preschool books such as Where the Wild Things Are, to longer stories for ages 5 and older such as Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. The reason the book isn't bigger than Babar is because many of the illustrations from each story were reduced or removed to fit the anthology's format. (Leo Lionni's Swimmy, for example, takes up 5 pages total, compared to its original 29 pages.) Brief biographical notes that are surprisingly quirky shine a little light on the 62 authors and illustrators, and an index helps, too, for the child who likes one story best. We love the idea of being within easy reach of a Star-Belly Sneetch, a William Steig donkey, and a Sendak monster at all times, and we're sure your little bookworms will, too. (Click to see a sample spread from The 20th-Century Children's Book Treasury, compilation copyright © 1998 by Janet Schulman, illustrations © renewed 1997 by William Steig.) (All ages) --Karin Snelson

Product Description
Unparalleled in scope and quality and designed for reading aloud and

sharing, this splendid anthology brings together 43 of the most memorable and

beloved children's books of our time. Here are classics such as Madeline

and Curious George; contemporary bestsellers such as Guess How Much I

Love You and The Stinky Cheese Man; Caldecott Medal winners such as

Make Way for Ducklings and Where the Wild Things Are; and family

favorites such as Goodnight Moon, The Sneetches, and

Winnie-the-Pooh. The selections range from concept books and wordless

books to picture books and short read-aloud stories, and represent the complete

array of childhood themes and reading needs: ABCs, number and color books,

stories about going to bed and going to school; tales about growing up,

siblings, parents, and grandparents; animal stories, fantasies; fables; magical

stories; stories about everyday life--and more. Also included are an

introduction, capsule biographies of the 62 writers and artists represented in

the collection, color-coded running heads indicating age levels, and indexes.

As a gift, a keepsake, and a companion in a child's first steps toward a

lifelong love of reading, The 20th Century Children's Book Treasury

belongs in every family's bookcase.