Writing a Children's Book Review

Writing reviews of  books can be a fun and challenging part of being a librarian.  This was an assignment for my children's literature class, and while it was a very short assignment, it wasn't easy.  Book reviews are often used as a selection tool for other librarians so it's critical to follow certain guidelines.  The "bible" our class used was Kathleen Horning's book From Cover to Cover.  Horning discusses how a review should not be confused with literary criticism.  So what is the difference between the two? "Reviews are limited by time and space; that is a review is published as close as possible  to the publication date of the book under consideration and the reviewer is generally limited to a set number of words" (Horning 167).  Giving a concise review that  critically analyzes the style of the book, the language, theme, plot, etc., is difficult when limited to only a certain number of words.  It is a challenging task that encourages the writer to really look at what the most important aspects of the book are when deciding what to include.  Some other points Horning discusses when writing reviews are:

• It's important to have a broad knowledge of contemporary children's literature in order to make comparisons to other works
• Read the book...a few times
• Keep the review to 100-400 words (mine had to be 150!).  This means you must choose your words carefully.

In From Cover to Cover, Phyllis K Kennemer defines 3 common types of reviews:

1. Descriptive-Objective statements about the characters, plot, theme or illustrations
2. Analytical- Statements about literary and artistic elements, including evaluation, comparison, and mention of contributions to the field.
3. Sociological-Judgements based on nonliterary considerations, such as potential controversial elements or predictions about popularity.

The main thing to keep in mind is to not summarize the book itself so much and be more critical of the actual writing or illustrations.

Here is my review of Umbrella Summer by  Lisa Graff, a book recommended to me by my 11 year old niece.

Umbrella Summer by Lisa Graff, 2009. 235 pages. Scholastic, $4.99. ISBN:978-0-545-23792-5. GR 4-6.

Umbrella Summer is a heartwarming story of love, loss and moving forward.  Eleven year old Annie Richards went from a typical life of riding bikes, making obstacle courses and getting into occasional trouble with her friends to a life of self inflicted hypochondria, obsessive about safety and protecting herself against disease.  Annie’s life changed when her twelve year old brother died unexpectedly of a heart defect.  Now, Annie spends her time wearing protective gear when she does ride her bike, and reading about illnesses and how to prevent them.  Her quirky but caring neighbors and friends try to help her heal, something her parents are incapable of because they are struggling themselves.  When Annie’s extreme behavior begins to affect her closest relationships, a new neighbor moves in.  Mrs. Finch has recently lost her husband, and she gives Annie a copy of Charlotte’s Web.  As the two read and discuss the book together, Annie begins to understand death is a part of life, and that she will find hope and happiness again through honoring her brother’s memory.  Graff's writing style encapsulates a touching tale of coming to terms with grief, making this book an excellent choice for any public or school library collection.

Try your hand at writing a review and let me know what you think!