Reference Reviews

Lawrence Looks at Books

Beyond Picture Books: Subject Access to Best Books for Beginning Readers, 3rd edition. Barbara Barstow, Judith Riggle and Leslie Molnar. Westport, CT: Libraries Unlimited, 2008. 978-1-59158-545-9; 2007-42282. $75.

Beyond Picture Books: Subject Access to Best Books for Beginning Readers From Amelia Bedelia to Zug the Bug, this revised edition of a reference standard profiles 3,762 books for beginning readers. Taking up where Carolyn Lima's A to Zoo (Libraries Unlimited, 2006) guide to picture books leaves off, a trio of long-serving children's librarians make recommendations for readers aged 5-8, or kindergarten through third grade. The selections are intended to build the confidence and vocabulary of their readers, and should supply accurate well-written stories with attractive illustrations. For this edition, the chief innovation is the placement of a subject guide at the front of the volume in acknowledgement of the topical approach to reading taken by many young students. The subject headings, from aardvarks to zucchini, are loosely based on Library of Congress Subject Headings. The bulk of the volume still consists of an annotated bibliography alphabetically arranged by author. Entries include author, title, publisher, date, illustrators, ISBN's, a brief summary, and selected subjects. Two methods of indicating the reading level are employed, including the Lexile Framework for Reading. Although most entries are available for purchase, a few titles out of print titles are included if they are held in more than 100 libraries. A list of 200 outstanding first readers prefaces the guide. Additional approaches to the books are provided by title, illustrator, series and "readability" indexes. In short, this tool will serve as an excellent collection building and reader's guide in school and public libraries.

— John Lawrence