The annotated materials contained in this list of children's books for 1983 have been selected for literary merit, usefulness, and enjoyment, and are intended to reflect a year's publishing with a balance between books to be enjoyed for free reading, for reading aloud, and for individualized reading programs or as background and supplements to the school curriculum. The 176 titles for preschool through junior high school age children are divided into the following areas: (1) picture books; (2) first reading; (3) stories for the middle group; (4) fiction for older readers; (5) poetry and song; (6) folklore and Bible stories; (7) history, people, and places; (8) arts and hobbies; (9) biography; (10) nature and science; and (11) classics. (HTH)