This report by the NCTE Committee recommends books for children in three categories--primary, intermediate, and advanced--and includes a short summary of each book. (JL)

Features annotations of 13 outstanding nonfiction books that the 2002 Orbis Pictus Award Committee designated as the award winner, honor books, and books of distinction. (SG)

Discusses four books that carry out the theme of critical literacy and social justice. Notes that three of the four are edited collections and represent many voices. (SG)

The content of recent children's literature--especially works dealing with death, sex, old age, and homosexuality--is not an end in itself; the handling of that content and its ultimate meaning are crucial in selecting books for children. (DD)

Investigates the syntactic complexity and vocabulary diversity of books recommended by authorities to be read aloud to children and of "grocery store" books. (DD)

Presents brief annotations of 19 children's picture books and 9 chapter books considered by the authors to be too wonderful to miss. (SR)

Presents brief annotations of 14 children's books that take readers beyond their own boundaries to explore other times and other places. (SR)

Offers brief descriptions of 20 outstanding nonfiction for children, including the 1999 Orbis Pictus Award winner, and four Orbis Pictus honor books as well as a number of other outstanding nonfiction titles dealing mainly with history and biography. (SR)

Offers annotations of 26 illustrated books and chapter books for children and adolescents that the writers of this column consider too good to miss. (SR)

Offers brief annotations of 23 children's books in which characters read, talk about their reading, or in which the act of reading is important to the story line. (SR)

Presents brief descriptions of 1999's list of Notable Children's Books in the Language Arts: 30 children's trade books published in 1998 chosen for their outstanding potential to enhance language awareness among students in grades K-8. (SR)

Discusses some of the best current books dealing with handicapped children. (DD)

Annotates classroom tested children's literature titles for children in kindergarten through eighth grade. (HTH)

Focuses on the work of Mem Fox. Explores Fox's life in order to better understand her work; examines books she has written for teachers and for parents; and reviews her children's books, emphasizing children's and teachers comments. Looks at best-loved books, bedtime books, predictable books for early readers, books that play with language, and…

Lists books published for children in 1985 that are either unique in their language or style, deal explicitly with language, or invite child response or participation. (FL)