K-12 school libraries would be very well-served in purchasing this concise, well-researched book for their reference collections, as it does an excellent job of listing both contemporary and older children’s classics for a wide range of age groups.
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Martin’s stated purpose for writing his book is to give teachers, parents, and grandparents trustworthy guidance in choosing reading ... Read morematerial for children and teenagers. In this he succeeds admirably, providing lists of not-to-be-missed titles for readers of all ages and interests. . . .Martin’s work of synthesizing the many book lists, his knowledgeable commentary, and the book’s convenient one-volume format make this a useful resource, especially for those new to the world of children’s and young adult literature. . . .For me at least, part of the pleasure of the more idiosyncratic, individualistic lists is finding quirky, obscure books that I’ve never heard of before. . . .[H]is extensive bibliography provides plenty of guidance for those seeking more specialized reading recommendations.
Technical Services Quarterly
A Lifetime of Fiction: The 500 Best Reads for Ages 2 to 102 is both a work of love and scholarly discernment. I saw all my favorite books there and others that I now want to read.
Frank Asch, author of Happy Birthday, Moon, a New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year Show Less