I’m not going to bore you with the reasons why reading is so important for children. Everyone’s heard that lecture.
What I want to talk about is the lack of book reviews for children, by children.
Why do we rely on grown–ups to tell us which books are good? Do we tell our parents and teachers which books to read? No, because children aren’t (or at least shouldn’t be) experts on what grown-ups look for in books.
But it works both ways.
No matter how much they try or how well meaning they are, an adult will never know what truly makes a children’s book captivating for the intended audience.
So, can we please agree that if grown-ups rely on the opinion of grown-up book critics, children should be relying on child book critics?
My second gripe is the lack of candid children’s book reviews.
Most children (and their parents) will have noticed an overwhelming lack of negative children’s book reviews, whether it be online, in publications or by word of mouth (that’s adult word of mouth, by the way.)
I carried out several google searches in search of a bad children’s book review and couldn’t find one. It seems that absolutely all children’s books are superb reads.
How can this be?
Can all children’s books be engaging, thrilling and well-written? Is a book considered to be good simply by virtue of the fact that it has been published?
Of course, the answer is no.
There seems to be a lack of willingness to give a children’s book a bad or even honest review. Whilst there are a few negative reviews for YA books, most notably the ‘Twilight’ series, where are the frank book reviews for picture and middle grade books?
This is a serious issue. Reading a good book is one of life’s joys and I don’t want that being snatched away from children.
How many kids have been needlessly put off reading for life because they were uninformed about a book’s readability and have ended up with a terribly boring one?
Although I haven’t been put off reading (thankfully!), I have certainly wasted lots of my pocket money and time on awful books.
Well, no more! I have stepped in and have started reviewing books, with complete and utter honesty.
I am not afraid to say what I really think.
Even popular and best-selling children’s authors can’t escape my frankness.
For reviews of great books and not so great ones follow my YouTube channel, Booksy Book Reviews.
