PARENTING : Topping the ‘Page-Turners’ : * Children’s bookstore owners offer advice on compiling a reading list for young minds.

Coaxing children to read more is often a matter of putting the right books in their hands. But while parents will remember beloved titles from their past, they may need help navigating today’s juvenile market. Children’s bookstore owners who review thousands of books each year are ideal sources for advice on what to buy. Not only will they happily recommend their own favorites, but they can also tailor a reading list to the age and interests of a particular child.

A survey of owners of four Valley children’s bookstores yielded the following selections, all newly released.

For the under-3 crowd, Judy Collins, co-owner of Creative Play Resources in Northridge, chooses “The Little City” and “The Little Country” board books (Random House, hardcover, $3.25 each). Written by Katherine Ross and illustrated by Edward Miller, the books capture the excitement of city life and the beauty of the country. Among the scenes depicted are a morning rush hour and night city panoramas as well as children catching bugs and feeding ponies. “These books convey wonderful, first-time experiences for children,” Collins says.

For the same age group, Bernice Anikstein, owner of Educative Toys and Supplies in Van Nuys, recommends “Baby Monkey” (Viking, hardcover, $3.99). Written and illustrated by Patrick Yee, this board book features a young monkey who is saved by its mother from various mishaps. According to Anikstein, “It helps little kids understand that mom is always there to offer security and guidance.”

Darlene Daniel, owner of Pages Books in Tarzana, suggests “What Is Your Language?” (Dutton Books, hardcover, $12.99) for youngsters from ages 2 to 6. Author Debra Leventhal and illustrator Monica Wellington created this picture book about a boy who visits many countries, asking questions of children he meets. “The book graphically shows the similarities and differences of children around the world,” Daniel says.

For a similar crowd, ages 3 and older, Christy Meisner, who owns the Secret Garden in Burbank, likes “My Working Mom” (Morrow Junior Books, hardcover, $14.95). Written by Peter Glassman with illustrations by Tedd Arnold, the story focuses on a mom who works in a scientific laboratory, creating experiments “that keep her whole family jumping,” according to the book’s promotional material.

Daniel recommends “Max Found Two Sticks” (Simon and Schuster, hardcover, $15) for the 3-8 set. Written and illustrated by Brian Pinkney, the story centers on a boy who uses a pair of sticks to mimic the sounds of life around him: the noise of the subway, pigeons flying, insects buzzing.

Anikstein’s choice for the same age group is “Too Many Babas” (Harper/Trophy, paperback, $3.50), with text and illustrations by Carolyn Croll. When a crowd of grandmothers attempts to make a pot of stew, they learn a lesson about teamwork, Anikstein says.

Older children, Anikstein feels, will appreciate “What Good is a Tail?” (Cobblehill/Dutton, hardcover, $13.99). Writer Dorothy Hinshaw Patent and photographer William Munoz got together on this book for 8- to 12-year-olds, which highlights the many uses of animals’ tails. “It’s great for kids who are having trouble reading because the print is large and non-threatening,” Anikstein says.

Also for this group, she suggests “My Escape: Shipwrecked” (Pocket Books, paperback, $2.99) by Judy Donnelly and Sydelle Kramer. “The book has a great historical base and includes all the right elements for a good page-turner,” says Anikstein of this true story about a mother and her children lost at sea during World War II.

From Daniel, another “page-turner” pick, for 8- to 14-year-olds, is “Song of the Gargoyle” by Zilpha Keatley Snyder (Bantam Books, paperback, $3.99). The story of a medieval boy’s quest to determine why his father has disappeared, the book, Daniel says, is loaded with adventure.

Along similar lines, Collins recommends “Martin, the Warrior,” by Brian Jacques with illustrations by Gary Chalk (Philomel, hardcover, $17.95).

Set in a mythical medieval country, this good vs. evil adventure for 10- to 14-year-olds reveals how Martin the mouse warrior earned his title and fame.

The same readers, Meisner says, might also go for “Bruce Coville’s Book of Aliens: Tales to Warp Your Mind” (Scholastic, paperback, $2.95), an anthology of scary stories compiled by Coville, who also wrote most of them. “Kids love scary books,” Meisner maintains.

“My son just finished one that he couldn’t put down. He read it in two nights--that’s two nights without TV. I was happy.”