5 THINGS I LOOK FOR WHEN I REVIEW A PICTURE BOOK 

I’ve always loved picture books. I don’t want to admit to how many picture books I read in a year, much less my lifetime. Let’s not go there.

But reading a picture book is different than reviewing it. Reading is for me. Reviewing is for YOU, all the readers who look to Books Children Read for recommendations.

Asked what I look for when I review, that got me thinking… Why do I love picture books? What makes a picture book great? What are my criteria for giving a book a good review?

5 things I look for when reviewing a picture book:

1. STORY – For me, story is paramount. What makes a good story? It’s unputdownable. It has an enticing hook, well-paced plot, authentic settings and characters, a compelling arc for the main characters, and a satisfying ending. A picture book might be gorgeously designed, illustrated, and printed, but if it doesn’t have a strong story, it’s not going to be a 5-star review.

2. Will kids like it? – Picture books are made for kids. Their opinion matters most of all and I try to give them a voice as much as possible in my reviews. I think about the kids I know – do they/would they like this book? And/or I think about myself at that age – would I have loved that book? (This is where having vivid memories of being a kid comes in handy.)

3. Value to the reader – Picture books are made for kids but purchased by adults. If an adult reader doesn’t perceive any value in a particular picture book, they won’t purchase it/check it out for their kid(s). That’s where reviews come in, and so I always try to keep this in mind as I’m reviewing a book. What is its value? Sometimes just being an excellent read is enough. But usually, most adult readers need more. As I review, I think about where the book could be used, in what settings, and how different readers might consume it. 

4. Quality – What is the quality of the writing? Does the writer have a strong voice? Is their writing fresh and vivid? Can they spin a good tale? Do they leave room for the illustrations? What is the quality of the illustrations? Do they work with the words to tell the story? Are they excellently drawn and rendered? Do the characters come to life? What about the design and printing? Is it easy and enjoyable to read? If it’s a physical book rather than an e-book, is it durable enough to survive multiple reads?

5. Heart – Simply defined, heart is the soul of a book. Do I connect with it? Does it make me feel? Can I relate to it? Will a reader connect with it? Will it touch their emotions? Will they relate to it? A book with universal themes or emotions often is said to have a lot of heart; books with heart have consistently high reviews.

What I don’t look for when I’m reading or reviewing a book:

• How popular it is
• How old/new it is
• Who published it
• Agendas – hot topics, trending issues, or heavy-handed messages 

It’s not that I don’t read or won’t review these types of books or that I don’t like or enjoy these types of books. But for me, a good picture book isn’t determined by how popular it is, how new it is, whether it was traditionally or independently published, or if it has an agenda. These things don’t automatically make a book good. It needs more: an excellent story, a lot of heart, kid-appeal, and quality.

And lastly…

Star ratings – what do they mean to me?

Star ratings can be subjective; everyone has their own definition of what a five- or four-star book is. For Books Children Read reviewers, this is what our star ratings mean:

1. I didn’t like this book and wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.
2. The book is okay, but it has some major issues. It wasn’t a good read for me and I wouldn’t recommend it to most readers.
3. The book is good; I liked it but had a few issues with it. I probably wouldn’t read it again and would recommend it with a few caveats.
4. The book is really good, I enjoyed reading it and would read it again. There might be one or two issues with it, but I would recommend it to most readers.
5. I loved this book. It is excellent and highly recommended to all readers.

So that’s what goes into my picture book reviews. Of course, much of this is all my personal opinion and is not intended to reflect all reviewers. But now, whether reader or author, you have a few insights into one picture book reviewer’s mind.