My daughter, Jane Scott, and I spent many years compiling this recommended reading list for young people of all ages, from preschool through high school and beyond. The Book Tree includes a selective array of excellent books for each age group. We believe with Walter de la Mare that “only the rarest kind of best of anything can be good enough for the young,” so we researched and read every young people’s book we could get our hands on and included in The Book Tree classic books, little-known books by great writers, and a sizable collection of inspiring biographies. Of course, we realize that our selections are not the only books worth reading. We are simply sharing with you books that we especially recommend for the young. Above all, we want to encourage young people to cultivate a life-long love of reading, a habit that will enrich their hearts, minds, and souls. A good story allows us to vicariously experience conflicts between good and evil and thereby grow in wisdom. Good books open up new worlds of interest and activity.

Each book is accompanied by a summary that seeks to spark young people’s interest in the book. We also include several indexes including a subject index so that readers can find books on topics of interest to them. We do not include cartoon versions of classic children’s books that water down the story visually and verbally. And we avoid rewritten books. These retold versions are frequently poorly written and trite; they usually fail to capture the beauty and depth of the original. We think that young people should read unabridged editions of the classics. If they aren’t old enough to enjoy a particular book, let them wait a few years. It is surely counterproductive to introduce a child to a retold classic before he or she is sufficiently mature to enjoy the original.

The literary canon—books that are most excellent and most representative of their particular culture—is under attack. Books once considered classics are rapidly being replaced by books of little if any value. As a result, the search for good children’s literature has become increasingly difficult. We hope that parents, teachers, and everyone who cares about children’s literature will pass on to the young a life-long love for good books.