Finding stories that spark children's imaginations and also keep parents awake isn't easy.

In developing this list for a children's literature textbook, Barbara Krieger and three colleagues looked for books that "might inspire questions and comments and conversation."

The books she found, she says, are "just good literature."

"Reading aloud between parents and children is so essential, and these books are fun for both children and parents," Krieger says. "The list includes a variety of genres: stories, poetry, information books, or nonfiction. For very young children, there are alphabet books and counting books."

Here is Krieger's list of books to read out loud to infants and toddlers.

INFANT - 3 YEARS

Barton, Byron. TRUCKS. HARPER COLLINS, 1998.

BROWN, MARGARET WISE. GOODNIGHT MOON. ILLUSTRATED BY CLEMENT HURD. HARPER & ROW 1947.

CARLE, ERIC. THE VERY LONELY FIREFLY. Philomel, 1995.

Cooke, Trish. SO MUCH. ILLUSTRATED BY HELEN OXENBURY. CANDLEWICK, 1994.

COUSINS, LUCY. ZA-ZA'S BABY BROTHER. CANDLEWICK, 1995.

DAY, ALEXANDRA. GOOD DOG, CARL. LITTLE SIMON, 1996.

FLEMING, DENISE. BARNYARD BANTER. HOLT, 1994.

FORD, MEILA. ON MY OWN. GREENWILLOW, 1999.

HAYES, SARAH. CLAP YOUR HANDS. ILLUSTRATED BY TONI GAFFE. LOTHROP, LEE SHEPARD, 1988.

HENKES, KEVIN. THE BIGGEST BOY. ILLUSTRATED BY NANCY TAFURI. GREENWILLOW, 1995.

HILL, ERIC. WHERE'S SPOT? Putnam, 1980.

JOHNSON, ANGELA. DO LIKE KYLA. Illustrated by James E. Ransome. Orchard, 1993.

McDonnell, Flora. I LOVE BOATS. Candlewick, 1995.

Flack, Marjorie. ASK MR. BEAR. Aladdin Books, 1986.

Rosen, Michael. WE'RE GOING ON A BEAR HUNT. Illustrated by Helen Oxenbury. Little Simon, 1997.

Raschka, Chris. Can't Sleep. Orchard, 1995.

Sturges, Philemon. Ten Flashing Fireflies. Illustrated by Ana Vojtech. North-South, 1995.

Tafuri, Nancy. Have You Seen My Duckling? Greenwillow, 1984.

From CHILDREN'S LITERATURE IN THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL (Brown Benchmark, 1997).

Deborah J. Waldman, a freelance writer in Edmonton, Canada, has written for SPORTS ILLUSTRATED FOR KIDS, PUBLISHERS WEEKLY and VARIETY.