Readers' Advisory for Children and 'Tweens

Book excerpt: This complete guide to youth readers' advisory covers genres, reading interests, and issues, as well as provides lists of sample titles and recommended reading. Finding children and 'tweens great books to read is still a key library service, even in the age of computers. Readers' Advisory for Children and 'Tweens is an easy-to-use, practical guide that will help any library staff member become more comfortable offering this service—and more adept at producing satisfying results. Beginning with basic advice on the readers' advisory interview, the book details how to find books for different age groups, including young children and their parents, emergent readers, transitional readers, and adept readers. It explores genre fiction for 'tweens, nonfiction, poetry and folklore, and graphic novels, and it offers techniques on promoting books and reading. Potentially sensitive issues such as book challenges, assisting English language learners, serving children from various cultures, working with teachers, and helping reluctant readers are addressed, as well. The advice is augmented with handy booklists and descriptions of dozens of websites that aid in youth readers' advisory.