"Evaluate books with an eye toward sharing them with your child. Teach them an appreciation for reading by their closest and best example--yourself."

Auditory perception

• Does the story have words that sing? Do the words flow and have a good feel and flavour?
• Does the story have words that enrich vocabulary?
• Do the words invite the child to imitate their sounds? Their turns of phrase?
• Do the words challenge the child to exercise his lips and tongue?
• Do the words challenge the child to imitate the rhythm and rhyme?

Visual analysis

• Do the pictures excite the child visually? Are the colors bright?
• Are the pictures rich in detail?
• Do the pictures invite imagination?
• Do the pictures introduce an interesting medium? Is the child interested in how they are drawn?
• Do the pictures complement the story?
• Does the illustrator have a distinctive style?

Tactile feedback

• Does the book have a distinctive look and feel?
• Is the book a convenient size? Are the pages easy to turn?
• Is the book durable?
• Is the book made of some other material?

Examine the content

"The content of the story can be so much more than just the words and pictures."

• Does the story introduce valuable life lessons?
• Does the story have a moral?
• Does the story present frivolous or unusual behavior?
• Does the story promote family values?
• Does the story expand the child's horizons? Enhance his understanding?
• Is the subject appropriate for your child's maturity level?

©Copyright 2004-2014, Mr. Merrick J. Stemen. All rights reserved.