Designed for use primarily by students, teachers, and media specialists, this book discusses the relationship between developmental stages of children's growth and the literature that young people find relevant at various stages of their growth. Part 1 "Young People and Their Books," discusses literature and the nature of the child, the nature of the child, and developing creative responses through the literary encounter. Part 2, "The Developmental Years: Extending the Literary Encounter," contains chapters devoted to book selection and literature in the preschool, early school, middle school, and early and later adolescent years. Four appendixes provide lists of suggestions for the sharing of and responding to literature, book selection aids (annotated), graphic and literary award winning titles, and publishers of children's and adolescent literature. Subject, author, illustrator, and title indexes are also included. (LL)