Young Readers

Another day, another list, another controversy.Actually, it's two lists this time, but on the same subject and both announced last week: The top 100 "great" English-language books of the 20th century. The first was compiled by the editorial board of Random House's Modern Library (which happens to publish most of the 100 selections on its list). The second came from students in the Radcliffe publishing course, and also was compiled under the direction of Random House's Christopher Cerf.Both lists are provocative.

Selma Levi, children's librarian at the main branch of the Enoch Pratt Free Library, recommends these books for children interested in reading about Israel's history:"A Kid's Catalog of Israel," by Chaya M. Burstein. (Scholastic, 1988) Ages 8-12."When Will the Fighting Stop?" by Ann Morris. (Atheneum, 1990) Ages 8-12.Pub Date: 5/05/98

Here is a host of Halloween treats, ranging from how-to books with last-minute costume ideas to spooky read-alouds for goblins of all ages.* "The Halloween Grab Bag: A Book of Tricks and Treats" by Ferida Wolff and Dolores Kozielski, illustrations by David Neuhaus (HarperTrophy, $5.95, 96 pages, ages 7-10). This is a good book to have on hand for children ready for do-it-yourself projects. There are 10 costumes that require cutting, pasting, painting and some simple stiching, as well as four "hurry-up" outfits that won't take more than a half-hour to throw together.

Before Sylvia Rouss sends a manuscript to a publisher, she runs it past her toughest audience -- her pre-kindergarten students at Beth Tfiloh's preschool in Pikesville."

High school students have summer reading lists. Grown-ups have lists for summer reading, too. Here's one for your youngest readers."At the Beach," by Anne Rockwell"Summertime in the Big Woods," by Laura Ingalls Wilder"Splash," by Anne Jonas"Sea Shapes," by Suse McDonald"How I Spent My Summer Vacation," by Mark Teague- Courtesy Barnes & Noble, Annapolis Harbour CenterPub Date: 8/09/98

Carol Otis Hurst, a former elementary school teacher and author of "Once Upon a Time: An Encyclopedia for Using Literature with Young Children," recommends several books as "first books for emergent readers" -- those designed to foster and encourage reading in very young children. First printed in "Teaching K-8 Magazine," the list includes these titles and can be found at www.carolhurst.com/profsubjects/reading/emThis line is longer than measure/can't be broken ergentreaders.html. One-Word Books These demand a flair for the dramatic from the reader, as all emotion and meaning is derived from inflection.

Karen Creech knows how to get children to read. Just teach them some sea chanteys, give them quill pens and show them how to make butter.All these activities are part of "An American Folk Festival," a summer series of programs at Junior Editions, a children's book store at Columbia Mall. Ms. Creech, the store's program manager, says the object of including activities such as chantey-singing and butter-making is to pique the interest of youngsters so they'll read more about the times they reflect.

Never mind what T. S. Eliot said. June is the cruelest month for children in school.Held captive in classrooms, they count down the days until the start of summer vacation. Time drags.Here are some books to serve as inspiration for younger kids anticipating a beach vacation.* "The Seashore Book" by Charlotte Zolotow, paintings by Wendell Minor (HarperCollins, $15, ages 3-8) follows a boy and his mother on an imaginary trip to the ocean.The boy has never been to the sea, so his mother describes it to him in luscious detail:You lie down in the hot noonday sun now,and it feels warm as a big soft catcovering you,taking away the chill of the waves.

Mary Downing Hahn writes about children with an integrity that makes her work stand out in the juvenile fiction crowd.Her readers have long known that. Now folks who vote on awards are taking notice, too.Ms. Hahn, who lives in Columbia, won the 1992 Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction for "Stepping on the Cracks" (Clarion, $13.95, 240 pages, ages 9-12).On Sunday, she will receive the Enoch Pratt Free Library's third Hedda Seisler Mason Award, also for "Stepping on the Cracks." The Mason award is given biennially for what is judged to be the most significant children's book by a Maryland author.

Dazed by the "Jurassic Park" dinosaur craze? Maybe it's time to kick back and relax with some books about the largest living land animal, the elephant.Elephants are a favorite of young zoo-goers, because of their size and the tricks they do with their trunks. But that appreciation grows tenfold when elephant fans get a glimpse of a herd's life in the wild.* In "Elephants Calling" (Crown, $14, 36 pages, ages 7-11), biologist Katharine Payne gives readers an up-close look at these intelligent, social animals.