October 18, 1993

Contact: Craig D'Ooge (202) 707-9189

---

Library of Congress Announces Publication of 'Books for Children'

The Children's Literature Center in the Library of Congress has announced publication of its annual list, Books for Children.

Books for Children, the ninth list with this title, is the result of a year's work by a committee of specialists, who considered more than 5,000 children's hardcover and paperback books published in the United States during 1992.

The committee sought books strong in plot, theme, style, pace, characterization, and setting--elements essential for satisfying stories. First books were given particular attention, as were titles issued by new publishing houses.

In picture books, the committee looked for illustrations in harmony with the text; in nonfiction, it looked for accuracy, timeliness, clarity, and quality in writing and illustration. The list, which is divided by age groups, contains a brief description of each title.

The list is edited by Margaret N. Coughlan, Children's Literature Center reference specialist. Members of the advisory committee were Kristi Beavin of the Arlington (VA) County Public Library, Nell Colburn of the Prince George's County (MD) Memorial Library System, Elizabeth A. Guldseth of the Montgomery County (MD) Department of Public Libraries, Steven Herb of Pennsylvania State University, Ilze Long of the Reston (VA) Regional Library, Caroline S. Parr of the Central Rappahannock (VA) Regional Library, Maria Salvadore of the District of Columbia Public Library, Martha Walke of Thomas Jefferson Middle School Library (Arlington, VA), and Pam Sachs of Cheshire Cat Bookstore and Virginia Velsey of Georgetown Day School, both in Washington, DC.

Books for Children no 9 (Serial Number 030-001-00145-8) is available from the Superintendent of Documents, Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-9328, for $1, the same price set for the first Books for Children, issued in 1985 by the Children's Literature Center. Prior to 1985, the Center's list, which began in 1964 under the direction of the Children's Literature Center's first chief, Virginia Haviland, was called Children's Books.

The center was founded in 1963 in the Library of Congress to provide reference and bibliographic assistance to children's book authors and illustrators, publishers, librarians, and scholars and to recognize and encourage recognition of excellence in literature for children. While offering no programs directly serving children, the center's reference services, publications, and programs provide benefits to professionals who work in children's literature and these are passed along to young readers.

# # #

PR 93-128
10/18/93
ISSN 0731-3527