Make Way for Reading

A revised and updated version of their Waldorf Student Reading List (1999), editors Latimer and Fenner aim to provide a resource for teachers and parents looking for titles aligned with the Waldorf educational curriculum.The book is divided into chapters covering several grade levels plus sections for “Picture Books,” “Biography,” “Mythology,” and “Celebrations.” The editors, Waldorf-trained educators, introduce the educational goals for each age group, then annotate each selection, including publication data and awards. Titles have been chosen with care, and pains have been taken to feature only those books still easily obtained. However, the lists contain a great number of titles published in the early to mid-twentieth century; there will be little to purchase for libraries looking for the newest in Waldorf-recommended publications. Many public librarians may also find the age range suggestions surprising, often skewing older than commonly accepted. Most realistically, Make Way for Reading will find a home as a circulating book in communities with a large base of homeschooling families or an actual Waldorf school.