This weekend is the N.C. Literary Festival at UNC-Chapel Hill. And this year the festival will include a big area for kids, including readings from some very popular authors (the authors of Goosebumps and Skippyjon Jones among them), crafts and visits from popular children's characters.

So along those lines, I thought I'd ask Rebecca B. Vargha, a librarian at Carolina's information and library science library, about chapter books for kids. She offers a little advice and some other great information.

Q. When is a good time (age-wise) for kids to start reading chapter books?

A: The answer to this question depends completely on the individual child. Many children transition from picture books and beginning readers to chapter books between 6 and 9 years old. Each child is unique and as a parent you know your child best. So talk with librarians and teachers about your children's reading levels and current interests. Have fun and enjoy reading together!

A useful database for parents

Novelist Plus is a database of fiction books including titles for children. This resource is available through all public libraries and a majority of academic libraries in North Carolina. Check with your local public library for access details.

Web sites

1. Horn Book

2. Wake County kids book list, includes chapter books plus booklists for grade and reading level.

3. Chapel Hill library's youth services page. Lists by multiple categories such as award winners plus by reading level.

4. Durham County library's reading lists.

5. American Library Associations great Web sites for kids. See the Literature & Languages Category.

A list of titles for parents to use when selecting books for kids to read.

1. Best Books for Children: Preschool through Grade 6 by John T. Gillespie and Corrine J. Naden

2. Book Crush: For Kids and Teens -- Recommended Reading for Every Mood, Moment, and Interest by Nancy Pearl

3. Books Kids Will Sit Still for 3: A Read-aloud Guide by Judy Freeman

4. Honey for a Child's Heart: The Imaginative Use of Books in Family Life by Gladys Hunt

5. Kaleidoscope: A Multicultural Booklist for Grades K-8 by Rudine Sims Bishop

6. New York Times Parents' Guide to the Best Books for Children by Eden Ross Lipson

7. The Read-aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease

Looking for other advice from local experts? Go to www.trianglemom2mom.com/ask and check back here every Tuesday.