10 Criteria for Evaluating Children's Poetry

How do you know if the poetry you are offering to your children or students is quality poetry? Here are 10 criteria to use when evaluating children's poetry you'll find very useful.

Charlotte's Web Critique Review and Lesson Plans

Here is a brief breakdown of E.B. White's classic, Charlotte's web, loved not only for its wonderment, but also for its layered messages and beautiful-coming-of age rendition. Its qualities make Charlotte's Web a fine choice for a variety of age groups and developmental levels. Lesson plan ideas are included at the end

New Grandpa Super Bear Book

This fabulous book shows you really can earn your way to the top, and you can learn a lot and have loads of satisfying moments along the way. It even comes with "Little Good Deeds For You to Do" and a "Stripy Sock Good Deed Monitor".

How to Choose Just Right Books for Children and Teens

There are many factors and criteria to take into consideration when selecting and evaluating books for children. Whether you are a parent or an educator, a librarian or a bookshop, finding the right books and knowing how to utilize them once they are in your possession is critical.

Ramona Quimby Age 8 Analysis, Activities and Lesson Plans

Ramona's personal dilemmas, discoveries, and disappointments are universal. The life events portrayed in this story are significant and concern issues that every child in this age group faces, including...

Children's Book Helps Children's Charities Around the World: "How to Be a Super Bear" Free Download

Grandpa Super Bear, as he is affectionately called by family, friends, and fans, is able to offer his first book, "How to Be a Super Bear", as a free download due to his success with this marvelous inspirational series. Find out how to get yours here.

Interactive Book for Children on ITunes: Breakfast On Planet Obiedo - Interview With Author and Artist Jody Wright

Thanks to technology there is a brave new world of reading adventures for both parents and children. Meet one of the most fascinating new interactive children's books available for parents and their offspring for both IPad and IPhones. Take a trip to the Planet Obiedo and open the doors to reading and learning in a whole new way.

Stellaluna Children's Book Critique, Lesson Plans and Activities for Educators

Cannon's luminous full-page illustrations, bordered in white, are vivid and descriptive. The saturated backgrounds and sharply focused foreground give these illustrations an almost three-dimensional look.

Walter Dean Myers: Harlem - Analysis and Activities

Walter Dean Myers and Christopher Myers (father and son) have collaborated for a second time (first with Shadow of the Red Moon), this time with the inspired and impassioned Harlem. The text is set in 14 point Gothic no. 2; a bold font elaborating on the powerful story of Harlem brought to life in this over-sized poetry picture book.

Butterfly Boy by Virginia L. Kroll Children's Picture Book Review

Butterfly Boy is an exceptional book. A beautifully written story, it has caring, serenity, and excitement packed into every page.

Along the Seashore Book Review

So its summer, and you want to go to the seashore to see dolphins, sea stars, hermit crabs and other between-tide animals.

Not sure how you’ll get there? Well, get out your sunscreen and flippers and pull out your copy of “Along the Seashore” By Ann Cooper. You’ll learn lots about this special place. It features detailed and captivating illustrations by Dorothy Emerling.

Angela and Diabola Book Review - Humor and horror provide engaging mix in tale of twin sisters

“Angela and Diabola” is a story that will tickle your funny bone, but do not think for a moment that it is not equally as scary. It is a story fo angelic forces, diabolic evil, and the necessary balance of the two in every child.

How to Eat Fried Worms: Children's book critique

In the 70’s, Thomas Rockwell’s How to Eat Fried Worms was a children’s book that was either given as suggested reading or was read out loud in class. How to Eat Fried Worms can still be found on elementary school reading lists today.

The Magician's Nephew - Critique

There seems to be no end to the magic of C.S. Lewis. In this, the first book in the renumbered series, “The Chronicles of Narnia”, Digory’s Uncle Andrew tricks Digory and Polly into using magic rings. The two children find themselves on an adventure they will not soon forget, and adventure that has them crossing worlds, encountering an evil queen, and witnessing the creation of the land of Narnia.

Bouki Dances the Kokioko - Critique

This humorous tale, (first published in Diane Wolkstein's collection The Magic Orange Tree and Other Haitian Folktales) is a wonderful way to introduce children to Haiti’s popular characters: the gullible Bouki and the cunning Malice.

Ben and Me - Historical Fantasy Biography Critique

In his forward, Robert Lawson explains that the story told in this book was curiously found in a small room, eighteen inches square. It was found in “a manuscript book, the leaves of which, about the size of postage stamps, were covered with minute writing.” Not only was this manuscript proven authentic, but, in fact, the “officials of the National Museum of Natural History,” stated “that, incredible as it might seem, there could be no possible doubt that the handwriting was that of — a mouse!” This mouse was named Amos, inseparable friend and confidant to none other than Benjamin Franklin.

Angela and Diabola - Critique

A major theme in this story is good vs evil. Reid-Banks make an exceptional case for what can happen when a balance of the two, in each and every one of us,is not achieved. This is a story of angelic forces, diabolic evil and the necessary balance of the two in every child.

Tulips - critique

On the back cover of this book, smack dab in the middle, under a gorgeously plump, dangling cat, reads, "Don't you just love surprises?" The answer is yes, especially when it comes to a witty and charming book such as this.