During the school year, children's reading agendas are often set by the demands of school. But summer is the ideal time for your child to explore her own interests through books.

"The first requisite for summer reading is that the child be intensely interested in the book and the subject," says E.D. Hirsch, author of BOOKS TO BUILD ON. Let your children pick the books they want to read, even if that means checking out six books on sharks. Some light or even goofy reading is fine too, says Hirsch. Then you can gently offer other selections to leaven the mix. Hirsch recommends steering your child toward nonfiction books, which can be neglected by English teachers, who often prefer fiction.

We've compiled a list of books arranged by age. In addition, you could try these resources:

Generations of award-winning books can be found online by viewing the Newbery Medal list or the Caldecott list.

The Horn Book, Inc., offers CHILDREN'S CLASSICS: A BOOK LIST FOR PARENTS for $3.50 plus mailing charges. Call 800-325-1170 for ordering information.

BOOKS TO BUILD ON by E. D. Hirsch Jr. and John Holdren (Dell, $10.95) recommends books according to grade level and interests. An excellent source for nonfiction selections that follow the Core Knowledge Foundation curriculum.

THE PAIDEIA PROGRAM: AN EDUCATIONAL SYLLABUS by Mortimer Adler (MacMillan, $10); reading lists compiled by the Arlington Public Library system and A Likely Story, a children's bookstore in Alexandria, Virginia.

Amy Brecount White lives in Arlington, Virginia, with her husband and two sons. She's a frequent contributor to THE WASHINGTON POST.