Here are two lists of great 2013 picture books. Since I don't review many illustrated books, this might be a helpful resource for parents of younger children. They all sound great.

Here is a really important article for all parents to read, particularly parents of young children, who may be wondering about 'interactive books.' The Atlantic: Effect of Reading Tablets Here's my favorite quote from the article: “Fiction can show you a different world. It can take you somewhere you’ve never been. Once you’ve visited other…

Here's a discovery I made about Grimm fairy tales... Even when they are rewritten by a great author, and the setting is changed, they still carry the dark, brooding energy of the original Grimm tale. For that reason, I can't recommend something even though it's by a favorite author. Shannon Hale, who wrote a wonderful…

This is a hard blog entry to write. I made a decision not to include in my book reviews a children's book that in some ways has fabulous potential. It's about a young girl who finds Aladdin's lamp, unleashes the genie, and uses her wishes to do good in the world. A great premise, a…

  The picture says it all - just do it!

Recently, two books in my library pile turned out to be children's books I couldn't recommend. When I examined why, I realized that now that I have read so many children's books, I can tell a fake when I see it. One book, Kenneth and the Dragon, astounded me. It is pure and simply a…

I'm often asked why Litkidz.com doesn't cover books for older children. Although I have added a 12-14 category, it is really not the focus of this website, nor are older children. There's one main reason, and that is because by the time children are over 14, they are making reading decisions themselves, based on peers.…

Recently I gave a talk at a local bookstore about the subject of selecting good children's literature, which is basically what this website is all about. My good friend John McCormick, author of Dad, Tell Me a Story, was able to extract the highlights of that talk and add some useful information for parents. His…

Now that it's back-to-school time, it's a great time to remember that of all the aids to literacy, reading out loud to children is one of the best. Even 15 minutes a day can increase vocabulary, interest, and understanding, not to mention the terrific feeling of bonding that it creates. It's also great to remember…