
Building a Home Library
Reading list created by the American Library Association/Children’s Book Council Joint Committee for use by educators, librarians, and parents.
Create a high-quality library for kids at home! Building a Home Library lists provide guidance to parents, grandparents, and others interested in assembling an at-home library for the kids in their care.
BRAND NEW: Free supplemental content from authors and illustrators to support their books on the Reading Beyond lists. Explore videos, written interviews, educator guides, and more that you can share with your young readers, fostering a deeper connection with this amazing books.
Every two years, the ALA-Children’s Book Council (CBC) Joint Committee, with cooperation from ALSC’s Quicklists Consulting Committee, create Building a Home Library book lists. These lists — organized by age groups from 0 to 14 — include under-the-radar gems, multicultural books, and notable new reads. Newer lists focus on more contemporary titles across genres and formats, while lists from 2014 and 2012 also contain tried-and-true classics.
Use this infographic to help build your at-home library! And check out our article in the National PTA Magazine.
You can explore the searchable lists here.
Download printable lists, with annotations:
Building a Home Library for Ages 0-3
Building a Home Library for Ages 4-7
Building a Home Library for Ages 8-11
Building a Home Library for Ages 12-14
- 2021 Handout (12-14)
- 2018 Handout (12-14)
- 2016 Handout (12-14)
- 2014 Handout (12-14)
- 2012 Handout (12-14)
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Find the Reading Beyond List and More ALA-CBC collaborations.