Designed to facilitate the use of children's books from all genres, this exceptional text helps teachers, librarians, and media specialists select the best children’s literature for the classroom, library, or home.

Unlike an anthology of children's literature, which includes selected chapters or text summaries, the Eighth Edition of this highly regarded text teaches how to select quality children's literature. Using the critical standards for all literature, examples of children’s books provide the basis for an explanation of critical principles and special issues in judging books for children.

Taking readers through the definitions of literary terms such as plot, character, theme, setting, point of view, style, and tone, Lukens provides sound criteria for assessing the merit of children's books. The text also includes chapters on rhymes, poetry, biography, and informational books. A new and enlarged section addresses censorship and a new chapter addresses the benefits of reading, its significance for children, and its growth in popularity among adults.