book review workshop psla: may 1, 2009 presented by amy pickett –librarian, ridley high school...
TRANSCRIPT
Book Review WorkshopPSLA: May 1, 2009
Presented by Amy Pickett– Librarian, Ridley High School– M.L.I.S., University of Pittsburgh– S.L.J. Reviewer since 2005
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Qualifications to Reviewfor S.L.J.:
» School or Public Librarians» Teachers of children’s literature» CURRENTLY* working with
» Children» Young adults
» Two sample reviews*REQUIRED
Writing Reviews Is …
Great Reasons to Review Books:
Stay ahead of the curve!Read future award–winners before
they go to press!Expand your collection!Read outside your comfort zone!See your name in print!Share your professional expertise!
Drawbacks:Not all titles will appeal to youDeadlines don’t always match your
calendarSome topics are extraneous to your
collectionThe solution:
Communicate with your editor!
S.L.J.S.L.J.’s Review Guidelines’s Review Guidelines
250 words!250 words! Do you recommend the book for Do you recommend the book for
purchase?purchase? Why or why not?Why or why not?
Focus on critical evaluationFocus on critical evaluation Limit plot summaryLimit plot summary Discuss illustrative materialDiscuss illustrative material
Quality, effectiveness, clarityQuality, effectiveness, clarity Indicate controversial contentIndicate controversial content
S.L.J.S.L.J.’s Review Guidelines’s Review Guidelines
Consider Consider audienceaudience reactions reactions Include comparisonsInclude comparisons
Author, publisher, publication dateAuthor, publisher, publication date Comment on back matterComment on back matter Do not repeat bibliographic Do not repeat bibliographic
informationinformation Do not quote publisher’s Do not quote publisher’s
promotional copypromotional copy
The Review ProcessThe Review Process• Preview the book• Read the book• Draft a plot / content summary• Examine previous editions
and/or comparable titles• Evaluate the book’s:
• quality, appeal, usefulness• Make a recommendation!
• Preview the book• Read the book• Draft a plot / content summary• Examine previous editions
and/or comparable titles• Evaluate the book’s:
• quality, appeal, usefulness• Make a recommendation!
Art of the Negative Review
Art of the Negative Review
Art of Being Edited(The Ego-Free Reviewer)
Now It’s Your Turn! Use the checklist as a guide Include a brief summary Include enough descriptive information to
be helpful to librarians making purchasing decisions
Discuss the book’s overall quality Evaluate the book’s potential use Do you recommend it for purchase?
– How will it enhance the collection?– Does it relate to curriculum?– Why is it worth the money?– What type of population will most benefit
from access to this title?
Merge onto the Review Superhighway!
» Visit www.SLJ.com» “For Reviewers” link on home page
» Note: Checklists are available here» Online Reviewer Application link» Two reviews must accompany your
application (one positive, one negative)
Hit the Ground Running!Hit the Ground Running! Contact S.L.J. to apply Include book reviews in your newsletter Teach students to write book reviews
Submit student reviews to local newspapers Display student-authored reviews in your library
It’s S.L.J.’s world … but others live in it! VOYA
www.VOYA.com --> Submissions --> Reviewing TriState Young Adult Review Committee
www.TriStateReviews.org
