THE BEST CHILDREN'S BOOKS IN THE WORLD
edited by Byron Preiss
The Best Children's Books In The World ($29.95; Nov. 1996; 320 pp.; 0-8109-1246-5): The valid but adult-oriented introduction by Jeffrey Garrett should not ensconce this treasury of 15 children's books from around the world on the reference shelves. It's a browser's delight for readers who have passed self- consciously beyond picture books but still revel in visual tellings. Following a page on each author and illustrator, spreads from every book have been sized and reproduced on the large pages of the volume, with English translations appearing in the margins. The Umbrella Thief from Sri Lanka and The Hidden House from England have been available in the US for years, but most of the new books will be new to readers. (Book-of-the-Month Club selection) (Anthology. 9-12)