From Cover to Cover: Evaluating and Reviewing Children's Books

From Cover to Cover serves as a guide for evaluating and reviewing children's literature across formats and age levels. This reference work presents standards and criteria for assessing books aimed at young readers from picture books through young adult novels. The book breaks down key elements including plot structure, characterization, themes, and visual elements in children's books. Each chapter focuses on a specific aspect of evaluation, providing examples from published works and concrete methods for analysis. Horning draws on her experience as a librarian and book critic to explain both the technical and artistic aspects of children's book reviewing. The text includes practical advice for writing reviews as well as understanding how books function for different developmental stages. This comprehensive examination of children's literature evaluation demonstrates why thoughtful critique matters in connecting young readers with books. The work emphasizes the importance of understanding both literary merit and child development when assessing works for young people.

Readers describe this as a practical guide for evaluating children's literature, particularly useful for librarians, teachers, and students in library science programs. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of review criteria and evaluation methods - Specific examples from real children's books - Detailed chapters on different genres and formats - Inclusion of both text and illustration analysis - Useful checklists and evaluation tools Common criticisms: - Writing style can be dry and academic - Some examples feel dated - Limited coverage of newer formats like graphic novels - Could include more diverse book examples Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.07/5 (473 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (69 ratings) A library science student noted: "This book taught me how to write professional reviews and critically examine children's literature." A teacher reviewer commented: "The evaluation criteria helped me make better book selections for my classroom, though I wish it covered more contemporary titles."

Children's Literature, Briefly by Michael O. Tunnell, James S. Jacobs. This text presents frameworks for evaluating children's literature through specific criteria and categories while incorporating publishing industry insights.

The Essential Guide to Children's Books and Their Creators by Leonard S. Marcus. The volume provides analysis methods for children's literature through examinations of authors, illustrators, and literary elements.

Writing Reviews for Readers' Advisory by Brad Hooper. This resource outlines methodologies for crafting book reviews with focus on critical assessment and evaluation techniques.

Reading Children's Literature: A Critical Introduction by Carrie Hintz and Eric L. Tribunella. The book presents analytical approaches to children's literature through historical context and critical theory frameworks.

A Critical Handbook of Children's Literature by Rebecca J. Lukens. This guide examines elements of children's literature including genre, style, and theme through detailed analytical methods.

🔖 Author Kathleen T. Horning is the director of the Cooperative Children's Book Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she has worked since 1982. 📚 The first edition of this book, published in 1997, became a cornerstone text in children's literature courses and is widely used in library science programs. 📖 The book discusses how to evaluate children's books through multiple lenses, including typography, page layout, and the relationship between text and illustrations. 🏆 Horning served as the president of the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and chaired both the Newbery and Caldecott Award committees. 📱 The updated edition (2010) includes guidance on evaluating digital formats and addresses how technology has changed children's book publishing and reviewing.