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104th out of 236 books
—
47 voters
From Cover to Cover: Evaluating and Reviewing Children's Book
From Cover To Coveris a fresh, up-to-date look at some of the best examples of children's literature today, and also includes practical advice on how to write clearly articulated, reasoned opinions so that others can learn about books they have not yet read.
It includes:
- a short explanation of the process of making a children's book from manuscript to final bound book
- a
Paperback, 240 pages
Published
February 27th 1997
by HarperCollins
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So far- clearly written, good info, some is a basic review but still helpful for writers who: like to read critically for their own art, or who: blog about and review books themselves. :)
Ch 4 Poetry, Verse, Rhymes and Song, and Ch 5 The Picture Book -both sections well done. Others also informative, though perhaps not as in depth. Perhaps because I write MG Fiction, and have spent more time studying it, I found the Fiction section a bit weaker. A picture book writer might say the same about the...more
Ch 4 Poetry, Verse, Rhymes and Song, and Ch 5 The Picture Book -both sections well done. Others also informative, though perhaps not as in depth. Perhaps because I write MG Fiction, and have spent more time studying it, I found the Fiction section a bit weaker. A picture book writer might say the same about the...more
I’m pretty clueless when it comes to blogging. This blog is meant to help me remember all the books I’ve read, get students excited about reading, and inform parents or teachers about books.
That said… Kathleen Horning’s book, From Cover to Cover: Evaluating and Reviewing Children’s Books, is not about blogging but it is about evaluating books in a professional way. What a great tool for helping me know what to look for when evaluating books, why books are written and categorized in certain ways...more
That said… Kathleen Horning’s book, From Cover to Cover: Evaluating and Reviewing Children’s Books, is not about blogging but it is about evaluating books in a professional way. What a great tool for helping me know what to look for when evaluating books, why books are written and categorized in certain ways...more
This book was optional for my 610 class and required for a class I intend to take in the Spring, so i decided to read it while i could, and then I couldn't stop. It was amazing. I was proud of the review I had to write for my reference class last spring, and my ability to identify good books, but this book showed me how to express this so much better. The break downs into categories for literature is so wonderful to see. I can see myself really using the things I was thinking about. Though I exp...more
Where was this book when I was in library school? As much as "The Book Whisperer" guides teachers in the "how" and "why" of inspiring lifelong readers as children, this book details the "what" and "why". So much has changed in the production and quality of children's literature since I was a child, even in the 20+ years I have been in the educational field. Needing a professional book to finish our school's million word genre challenge, I recently picked this up. I was looking to polish my revie...more
eaI am using this reference/information book for my Materials for Children class and I also used it in the Materials for Young Adults class as part of the GSLIS program at Dominican University (River Forest, Il.). An excellent resource for evaluating children's/young adult books, both fiction and non-fiction. Also, a great source for help in writing reviews of these books.
1 like · like · see review
From Cover to Cover is an excellent resource for anyone who talks about, reviews or purchases children's books. It has clear and concise chapters on every type of children's book: nonfiction, poetry, chapter books, picture books, etc. While the subtitle states this book is about evaluating and review, the majority of the book is on evaluating books. Reviewing doesn't come in until the final chapter. Not that it is a bad thing. The information in the evaluating chapters is great. Horning goes int...more
More two and a half stars. Not terribly useful - of a very slim volume, a lot was taken up with explaining the anatomy of books (ISBNS, end papers) and not enough, I felt, about the issues you would actually need to consider when evaluating books for collections or reviewing them. Also, some of the genre divisions and explanations seemed... a bit off. In general, the non-fiction sections seemd better than the fiction sections. It did make me nostalgic for a time (maybe that never existed) in whi...more
1 like · like · see review
Oct 02, 2011
Joy
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
parents, teachers, librarians, school officials, writers, reviewers, serious readers
Each chapter of Kathleen T. Horning's From Cover to Cover equates to a course in some aspect of children's books. Study each one and you will graduate with a degree in children's literature--or at least feel as accomplished as you would if clutching that diploma.
When I began reading this book, I expected good information presented in a manner worthy of a good snooze; however, Horning delighted me by revealing in an exhilarating manner realms of the world of children's literature of which I have-...more
When I began reading this book, I expected good information presented in a manner worthy of a good snooze; however, Horning delighted me by revealing in an exhilarating manner realms of the world of children's literature of which I have-...more
I was inspired to offer a mock Printz and Newbery book club opportunity at school this year using the list selected by Austin Public Library. APL recommended that participants in their discussion use this book to hone their evaluation skills. I bought the book to put out for the kids to see - and then decided to read it for myself, just to see what I might have forgotten since my library school class days.
I found it really readable and useful. I didn't really learn anything new, but it was a goo...more
I found it really readable and useful. I didn't really learn anything new, but it was a goo...more
This book contains some useful advice on what to consider when evaluating children's books, and a wealth of references to worthwhile children's books, but it was fairly dull.
Too much time, I felt, was spent on tangential issues, such as details of publication, what are endpapers, what is the difference between a printing and an edition, and so forth. While of course it is useful to know the right terms to use when discussing a book, and some insight into the publishing process can be helpful, ul...more
Too much time, I felt, was spent on tangential issues, such as details of publication, what are endpapers, what is the difference between a printing and an edition, and so forth. While of course it is useful to know the right terms to use when discussing a book, and some insight into the publishing process can be helpful, ul...more
From Cover to Cover by Kathleen T. Horning offers guidelines for selecting and reviewing books for children. I read it as a textbook for the materials for children ages 5 to 8 course I took. The book, though covers books from infancy through young adult.
The book has three main parts: how to gauge a child's readiness for certain levels of books, recommendations by different topics and finally the nuts and bolts of writing reviews.
Horning shows how to judge a child's reading level, even for the yo...more
The book has three main parts: how to gauge a child's readiness for certain levels of books, recommendations by different topics and finally the nuts and bolts of writing reviews.
Horning shows how to judge a child's reading level, even for the yo...more
I had to read selections of this for a work event. I couldn't help but wonder what audience the book is meant for. The subject matter indicates its for librarians/teachers/other professionals but a lot of the information is very basic. It did contain some things that were new to me but most of it seems as if it could have been obtained in a college English lit class.
Well-written and precise, with some moments of insight, but all in all fairly obvious and unnecessary. E.g., make sure you look at how the pictures and the text work together when you evaluate picture books. Hmm. Could be a good confidence-builder for someone with zero experience making critical assessments of creative works and/or zero experience with the varieties of children's literature.
(from my old Book Log)
This book is an excellent introduction to children's literature, especially for children's librarians who (like me) never formally studied the subject. Horning devotes a chapter to each of the main categories of juvenile books, plus a brief history of children's publishing and a chapter on writing reviews.
This book is an excellent introduction to children's literature, especially for children's librarians who (like me) never formally studied the subject. Horning devotes a chapter to each of the main categories of juvenile books, plus a brief history of children's publishing and a chapter on writing reviews.
To be honest, I just skimmed the categories of children's books, figuring (hoping?) I know those pretty well by now, and went straight to p. 173, "Writing the review." Very useful section, especially if, like me, you are unaccustomed to writing a nice, concise, professional review, as opposed to gushing on Goodreads. ;)
I have gone back to this book many times, referencing it and refreshing my memory on key concepts of reviewing children's lit. An excellent read for anyone who is serious about picture books, children's lit, youth librarianship, or in building an excellent juvenile home library.
A wonderful and easy-to-read book for anybody interested in learning more about reading, reviewing and critically evaluating children's literature. Horning goes through each of the genres likely to be found in a bookstore, including graphic novels, and discusses the importance of each in a child's life as well as what to look for when critiquing them. Current titles are referenced as examples, making the information within the pages up to date. Terms are well-defined and easy to locate within ea...more
This is one of my all-time favorite books on how to evaluate children's books. Concise, interesting, and inexpensive, it is a guide I keep close for reference. I have also used it as a text for a children's literature class.
Good for a general audience and future children's librarians who have not had a literature background. Excellent, if not slightly dated, book recommendations abound in every chapter.
Useful to browse through anyway.
Useful to browse through anyway.
This is a good book for librarians, teachers and beginner reviewers to use when evaluating books for purchase or review. It gives a brief history of children's literature, genres, formats and how to write reviews.
The book is very detailed and informative. It's organized in a way that makes sense and contains many examples. The tone of the book was a little academic but it's a pretty easy read.
Feb 03, 2011
Katrina
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Children's Book Selectors and Reviewers
Shelves:
adult,
non-fiction
A good resource for anyone selecting or reviewing children's books. It wasn't really applicable for what I do, but I can see how it would be a good resource for people really delving into the world of book reviews.
One of the more enjoyable, informative, and helpful textbooks that I've had to read. Short and concise, too. Not one that I sold back because I knew I would use it as reference in the future.
With information on how books are published, structure, design, genres and more, From Cover to Cover is an excellent resource for anyone who works in the realm of children’s literature.
Mar 08, 2011
Liz DeCoster
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
children-ya,
lis
Read for LBSC 647: Children's Services in the Public Library. An indispensable reference for children's literature; it really helped me get caught up with terms and concepts in children's literature for my class, given my lack of background with children's services. I only wish I had time to read all the fabulous-sounding books Horning referenced!
So helpful for reviewing and Readers Advisory. And just for thinking about children's literature or literature in general. Clear & smart.
I really only read the last two chapters of this book: the one on fiction and the one on reviewing. Interesting stuff. This edition is from 1997, before Harry Potter, and I'd be interested to see what she has to say about reviewing and children's fiction now. Especially about what we all do on the blogs...
I read the earlier edition - loved it from start to finish. An informative and beautiful book.
Over all, a quite useful book, especially for a rookie librarian's assistant such as myself.
This book was required reading for my Resources for Children class, but since I mostly skimmed it during school I decided to read it front to back after school finished, since it seemed like a valuable read. Children's literature is a lot more complex than I thought, and I really hope to work with kids as a Children's Librarian some day. It's also nice knowing some in-depth information about kids' books for my own future kids. Also gives a great chapter on writing reviews of children's books, wh...more
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7 de Abr 11:52