Tips for Writing Book Reviews

Check the tips below for writing book reviews for Fiction, Nonfiction and Picture Books. When reviewing fiction, comment on any of the following you think appropriate.

View the tips on recommending for purchase or not further down the page.

Fiction Tips

  1. How convincing and accurate is the time and place?
  2. Are facts about the setting worked naturally into the text or story or do they seem added on?
  3. Are the characters realistic?
  4. Do readers see them grow and develop within the story?
  5. Do they act in ways logical for their ages and circumstances?
  6. Does the plot's action develop consistently and naturally?
  7. Is it original or is it written to a formula?
  8. What is the author trying to say?
  9. What can the child experience or learn about himself or others from reading the book?
  10. Is the language, structure, and vocabulary suited to both the story and the age for which it is intended?
  11. Is the language appropriate to the subject?
  12. Is dialog natural and in balance with narration?
  13. Is illustration style suited to the text?
  14. Has the illustration accurately reflected the facts and atmosphere of the story?
  15. Is the binding durable? Easy to open, of good quality?
  16. What is the approximate age appeal of the book?
  17. Note any controversial element that might prove problematic. Emphasis should be to inform, not to judge.
  18. Comment on other books similar in theme or topic or by same author.

Nonfiction Tips

  1. Scope - what does the book cover?
  2. Accuracy of text and illustration; currency; bias of author
  3. Authority of author - qualifications to write on topic
  4. Appropriateness to subject and target age group in terms of concepts, terminology, arrangement
  5. Presence of features such as tables of contents, glossaries, further reading suggestions, indexes Illustrations - Are they informative, well placed in relation to text, and appropriate to subject matter? Are important points? illustrated clearly? What about maps and charts?
  6. Consider format, general appearance. Is binding durable, easy to open, of good quality?
  7. Estimated age of target audience. Is the language, structure, and vocabulary appropriate to this audience?
  8. Note any controversial element that might prove problematic. Emphasis should be to inform, not to judge.
  9. Biographies - Is the character realistically portrayed or is he or she discussed as a one-sided, larger than life figure?

Picture Book Tips

  1. Are the illustrations in harmony with the text?
  2. Are they appealing to the target audience?
  3. Are size and shape of book appropriate to the age group and content?
  4. Is the layout of the text and illustrations creative and attractive?
  5. Is the binding durable, easy to open, of good quality?
  6. What is the appropriate age appeal of the book?
  7. Note any controversial element that might prove problematic. Emphasis should be to inform, not to judge

Recommending for Purchase

When writing reviews, recommend for purchase books that:

  • have wide appeal and/or usefulness
  • have literary value
  • are of borderline quality but of considerable usefulness because of certain strengths

Not Recommending for Purchase

When writing reviews and you wish to designate a title not recommended, please be specific and use this evaluation only for books that:

  •  are poorly written or illustrated, or
  •  are inaccurate or in some other way inappropriate.