In the years that followed, American librarians, including some trained at Brooklyn's Pratt Institute, pioneered the philosophy and techniques of bringing books and children together in the friendly atmosphere of a library reading room created specially for them. The work begun in this way in the 1910s and 20s became a model for public libraries throughout the world, from London to Tokyo. That is a heritage we should be proud of. We hear a lot in the news about children's reading scores. People who care about these test scores should care about public library service to children.
Children become strong and effective readers by reading books they truly enjoy.
The books they are likeliest to enjoy are the ones that best match their individual interests and needs. There are many reasons for this. For one thing, more than 4000 new children's books are published in the United States each year. The choices can seem overwhelming. For another, at bookstores today, especially at the chains, parents very often encounter staff who are neither experienced nor knowledgable enough to make informed suggestions.