Readers' Advisory for Children and 'Tweens

This comprehensive guide to youth literature advisory provides essential strategies for connecting young readers with books they'll genuinely enjoy, covering everything from genre preferences and developmental stages to practical techniques for engaging conversations about reading. Penny Peck offers a systematic approach to understanding the distinct reading interests of children and tweens, moving beyond basic age recommendations to address the specific challenges and opportunities of this service. The book serves as both a foundational training tool and an ongoing reference, with organized lists of sample titles and clear explanations of reading levels and appeal factors. It transforms the often-intimidating task of children's readers' advisory into an accessible, confidence-building process for library professionals.

What distinguishes this resource is its immediate applicability—library staff at any experience level can implement its concrete methods for conducting effective reading interviews and making personalized recommendations. The guidance acknowledges the digital age reality while reinforcing the irreplaceable value of human-centered literary matchmaking, particularly for developing readers navigating crucial literacy milestones. School librarians, children's department staff, and anyone assisting young patrons will find this an indispensable professional development tool that elevates their ability to foster lifelong reading habits through precisely tailored book suggestions.