Reviewing Children’s Books for StoryLinks

For the last year, I have had the opportunity to review children’s literature for a website called StoryLinks. The website was established by my monthly writing group, WriteLinks. StoryLinks aims to review children’s literature for 0 to 100 year olds, including picture books, junior fiction, information books, and YA books.
StoryLinks recognises the importance children’s literature has in helping young people to grow and learn and wants to champion books for the community.

Image courtesy of Penguin Books

How I got involved?
When I was asked if I wanted to read children’s literature and write reviews the answer was YES.
I read a lot of children’s literature, so this was my chance to advocate for books and support other children’s authors and illustrators.
As a teacher, writer and very cool aunt, I see this important connection in the lives of my primary school students and also encouraging my three nephews to love what they read. 
I especially loved having the experience of my students thoughts and input when I was reading Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables Fight Back by Tim Harris aloud to my class and was then asked to review the book. Two of my students loved the book so much that they came dressed as the character Canteen Carol for Book Week in 2018.

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Image courtesy of Tim Harris Children's Author

How is reviewing different to reading?
When reviewing books, I need to read these books and think about what makes them work. Some of the questions I may ask are:

• Are the characters relatable to children?
• Does the plot move the story along and hold the interest of the child reader?
• Is there a satisfactory ending?
• How does the book deal with difficult topics for children?
• Are there any helpful sections that will interest the reader, e.g. character profiles, further information, recommended resources?
• What are the main themes or messages in this book?
• What type of children would like to read this books?
• What type of genre or category would this book fit in?
• What other books, authors or illustrators are of a similar style?

After finishing the book, I have to take time out to think about the book, gather my ideas and re-read parts of the book again before I write the review.

Writing the review
The review needs to contain many of the things I listed above. In the review I introduce the name of the author, illustrator, book title and what genre of book it is.
I give a summary of what the book is about, who the characters are, the problem and some of the main events. I also need to not give the ending away!
As a reviewer, I need to include a balanced opinion on how the book handles characters, plot, difficult topics, themes and additional information.
I also like to include what type of readers will appreciate the book and titles of books or authors who write in a similar style, so it is helpful for people recommending the book to others or to children.
It takes a lot of time to read, think and put all my thoughts down in a cohesive review, but the process doesn’t finish there!
After I’ve written the review, I send it to the editor of the website, Mia Macrossan for her final approval and changes.
Once this is done, the review is published on the website.

Here are the reviews I’ve written for StoryLinks:
Emerging Readers

• The Adventure of Jellybean by Bill Condon and Dianne Bates
  

Independent Readers

• The Extremely Weird Thing That Happened in Huggabie Falls by Adam Cece
  
• Mr Bambuckle’s Remarkables Fight Back by Tim Harris
• The Mulberry Tree by Allison Rushby
• Sage Cookson’s Singapore Sensation #4 Sage Cookson by Sally Murphy
• Stephanie Chiocci and the Cooper’s Hill Cheese Chase by Matt Porter

Young Adult

• Talk Under Water by Kathryn Lomer
  

I’ve enjoyed the process of reviewing and it is helping me to improve my own writing by learning from other authors and illustrators. It’s a different avenue to blog in. I’ve also read a wide variety of different types of books.
So next time to you pick up book, have a go at reviewing it and think about why it works or doesn’t work for you as a reader and who you’d recommend to read it.