Seamless Youth Services for Every Age and Stage

Using techniques perfected as a horseback riding instructor, Loop attempts to develop strategies that encourage children to effortlessly transition from one level of library programming to the next, beginning with infants to two-year-olds right up to teens to adult. The key is to introduce titles with content and illustration that may be appreciated on different levels and can be piggybacked onto existing programs. Chapters are arranged by broad age spectrums, address the developmental realities and challenges of each age, and offer ideas for displays, handouts, book talks, and themes. Staffing and space constraints are also considered. However, missing from what might have been a useful and concise summary of transitional children’s programs is the important discussion of how to evaluate material for appropriate content and illustrations and examples of recommended titles that meet these criteria.