For 15 years bookseller Valerie Lewis and Walter Mayes, a former publisher's sales representative who is now an acclaimed children's storyteller, have met to talk about books: to remark, rejoice, praise, question, demur and, always, to share their passion for young readers' literature, from board books to picture books to early readers to novels.

Now, in "Valerie And Walter's Best Books For Children", they share that passion in a lively, opinionated, accessible presentation of some 2,000 recommended books for listeners and readers from birth to age 13.

The core of the book is some 2,000 title listings, which offer detailed information including:
-- Author and illustrator
-- Reading level
-- Listening level
-- Hardcover and paperback publisher
-- A comprehensive cross-referenced subject index
-- The authors expert opinions on what makes these books the best

The authors enthusiasm for individual titles is supplemented by numerous sidebar articles on related topics. such as:
-- Reading to children
-- Books for problem-solving
-- Holiday gift-giving
-- Reading wordless books
-- The value of series fiction...and many more