Growing and Knowing: A Selection Guide for Children's Literature

This comprehensive guide offers parents and caregivers an invaluable roadmap to navigating the vast world of children's books, providing expert advice on selecting age-appropriate and developmentally supportive literature. Mary Trim organizes her recommendations with a clear understanding of child development, helping adults choose stories that align with a young reader's evolving emotional and cognitive needs. The book serves as an essential tool for building a thoughtful home library, moving beyond simple book lists to explain the why behind great children's literature. It empowers parents to make informed choices that will nurture a lifelong love of reading from the earliest years through the middle grade chapter book stage.

What distinguishes this resource is its developmental approach, connecting specific types of stories and themes to the typical interests and challenges children face at different ages. Parents seeking to support their child's growth through literature will find practical guidance on everything from wordless picture books for toddlers to complex narratives for independent readers. The guide's strength lies in its ability to help adults see children's books not just as entertainment, but as tools for building empathy, resilience, and understanding. It ultimately transforms the act of book selection into a more meaningful and impactful part of parenting.