SELECTION SELECTION CRITERIACRITERIA

History & Historical FictionHistory & Historical Fiction

QUALITY OF WRITING & QUALITY OF WRITING & ILLUSTRATIONSILLUSTRATIONS

FICTIONFICTION– Is plot engaging?Is plot engaging?– Are the characters well developed?Are the characters well developed?– Does the setting connect to the story?Does the setting connect to the story?– Are the facts balanced with fiction, the Are the facts balanced with fiction, the

historical background always historical background always subordinate to the story?subordinate to the story?

– Will the reader leave the story Will the reader leave the story understanding more about that understanding more about that particular time or place?particular time or place?

QUALITY OF WRITING & QUALITY OF WRITING & ILLUSTRATIONS con’t.ILLUSTRATIONS con’t.

NONFICTIONNONFICTION– Does the text have voice to interest Does the text have voice to interest

young people?young people?– Is the scope of the topic appropriate to Is the scope of the topic appropriate to

the intended audience?the intended audience?– Does the organization and format of the Does the organization and format of the

book make is easily accessible?book make is easily accessible?– Do the illustrations clarify and extend Do the illustrations clarify and extend

the text? the text?

AUTHENTICITYAUTHENTICITY

FICTIONFICTION– Is there evidence of how the author Is there evidence of how the author

acquired necessary background?acquired necessary background?– Is there any contradiction or distortion Is there any contradiction or distortion

of know events of history?of know events of history?– Is the narrative language appropriate to Is the narrative language appropriate to

the time, including figures of speech?the time, including figures of speech?– Does the story reflect the values and Does the story reflect the values and

spirit of that time?spirit of that time?

AUTHENTICITY, con’t.AUTHENTICITY, con’t.

NONFICTIONNONFICTION– Is there ample documentation?Is there ample documentation?– Is the information up to date?Is the information up to date?– Do the illustrations accurately portray Do the illustrations accurately portray

the topic?the topic?– Is there a clear distinction between fact Is there a clear distinction between fact

and theory?and theory?– Are different points of view on issues of Are different points of view on issues of

the time presented or acknowledged?the time presented or acknowledged?

FREE OF CULTURAL BIASFREE OF CULTURAL BIAS

FICTIONFICTION– Are the characters portrayed as Are the characters portrayed as

individuals without stereotyping?individuals without stereotyping?– Does the dialogue maintain the natural Does the dialogue maintain the natural

cadence of the native language or cadence of the native language or dialect without making it difficult to dialect without making it difficult to read?read?

– Do people of color lead as well as Do people of color lead as well as follow/solve their own problems?follow/solve their own problems?

FREE OF CULTURAL BIAS, con’t.FREE OF CULTURAL BIAS, con’t.

– NONFICTIONNONFICTIONDo the illustrations contain accurate, Do the illustrations contain accurate,

authentic representations of people and authentic representations of people and scenes?scenes?

Is the culture accurately portrayed from the Is the culture accurately portrayed from the point of view of someone inside the cultural point of view of someone inside the cultural group?group?

What kinds of experts reviewed the text?What kinds of experts reviewed the text?Does the author avoid oversimplification?Does the author avoid oversimplification?

CURRICULAR RELEVANCECURRICULAR RELEVANCE

FICTIONFICTION– Does this book contain sufficient history Does this book contain sufficient history

to be used to meet social studies to be used to meet social studies standards?standards?

– Does the book provide information Does the book provide information about a particular era or way of life?about a particular era or way of life?

– Would this book be best used by the Would this book be best used by the whole class, by a small group, or as an whole class, by a small group, or as an unassigned supplemental text?unassigned supplemental text?

CURRICULAR RELEVANCE, con’t.CURRICULAR RELEVANCE, con’t.

NONFICTIONNONFICTION– For what educational purpose is the For what educational purpose is the

book intended?book intended?– Does the book foster critical thinking?Does the book foster critical thinking?– Who is the implied audience?Who is the implied audience?– What curriculum standards might be What curriculum standards might be

addressed with this book?addressed with this book?– Would this book be best used by the Would this book be best used by the

whole class, by a small group, or as an whole class, by a small group, or as an unassigned supplemental text?unassigned supplemental text?

““You think your pain and heartbreak You think your pain and heartbreak are unprecedented in the history of are unprecedented in the history of the world, but then you read. It was the world, but then you read. It was books that taught me that the things books that taught me that the things that tormented me the most were that tormented me the most were the very things that connected me the very things that connected me with all the people who were alive, or with all the people who were alive, or who had ever been alive.”who had ever been alive.”

James Baldwin, 1924-1987James Baldwin, 1924-1987