EVALUATING PICTURE BOOKS

The following questions are meant to help the reader determine the strengths of a picture book. Not every question is appropriate for every book.

Content

• How appropriate is the content of the book for its intended age level? What elements make it appropriate or inappropriate for that age group?




• Is this a book that will appeal to children, or is it really written for adults? Explain your answer.




• When and where does the action take place? How has the artist portrayed the setting?




• Are the characters well delineated and developed? In what ways?




• Are race, gender, and other stereotypes avoided? Describe specifically how stereotypes are avoided or reinforced.




• What is the quality of the language of the text? Support your answer with specific examples.




• How is the theme developed through text and illustrations?

Illustrations

• How do the illustrations help create the meaning of the text?




• How are pictures made an integral part of the text?




• Do the illustrations extend the text in any way? How? Do they provide clues to the action of the story?




• Are the pictures accurate and consistent with the text? How does the illustrator create or fail to create consistency?




• Where the setting calls for it, are the illustrations authentic in detail? Offer examples to support your answer.

Medium and Style of Illustrations

• What medium has the illustrator chosen to use? Is it appropriate for the mood of the story? Why or why not?




• How has the illustrator used line, shape, and color to extend the meaning of the story?




• How would you describe the style of the illustrations? Is the style appropriate for the story? Why or why not?




• How has the illustrator varied the style and technique? What techniques seem to create rhythm and movement?




• How has the illustrator created balance in composition?

FORMAT

• Does the size of the book seem appropriate to the content? Why or why not?




• Does the jacket design express the theme of the book? How?




• How do the cover design and endpapers convey the spirit of the book?




• In what way does the title page anticipate the story to come?




• Is the type design well chosen for the theme and purpose of the book? Why or why not?




• What is the quality of the paper?




• How durable is the binding? Would the book stand up to multiple readings?

Overall Evaluation

• How is this work similar to or different from other works by this author and/or illustrator?




• How is this story similar to or different from other books with the same subject or theme?




• What comments have reviewers made about this book? Do you agree or disagree with them?




• What has the artist said about her or his work? How do the artist’s comments enhance your understanding/impression of the illustrations?




• Will this book make a contribution to the growing body of children's literature? What will that contribution be? How lasting do you think it will be?