Like any other form of literature, children's literature can be extremely subjective. One person's masterpiece is another person's compost, and books found delightful one generation can appear static and boring the next. Yet because children perceive things differently during different stages of their development--and because parents are always concerned about the content their kids are exposed to--it pays to evaluate the appropriateness of various forms of children's literature.
Instructions
1. Determine the age appropriateness of the content. For younger children, the plot should be appealing, easy to grasp and upbeat. Problems should involve relatively mild consequences (such as getting muddy in the rain on the way home). Older children, on the other hand, probably want something with a little more weight behind it. The complexity of the prose should match your child's development level and the size of the book should be enticing to the child rather than intimidating.
2. Look for basic standards conducive to any type of literature. Even the simplest preschool books need a sense of plot and mood. Characters should behave in a manner consistent with their personality, and the book as a whole should avoid undue clichés or derivative content. Watch for ethnic and racial stereotyping as well, particularly in older children's books written when societal standards were different than they are now. The best children's literature--the ones honored by awards--are well constructed in terms of story and pacing, display rich characterization, take original and complex approaches to their subject matter, and provide the reader with food for thought above and beyond the simple pleasure of a good read. A children's book which doesn't meet such criteria may be enjoyable, or even good. However, it shouldn't be considered real literature.
3. Check the pictures of the book, if any are included, and evaluate them for their appropriateness. Books for younger readers should have a large number of illustrations, while books for older children may be limited to just a few. The illustrations should match the prose they are accompanying, and enhance the text rather than detracting from it. They should measure up to artistic standards in their own right--displaying a unified style and tone, attracting the eye and conveying the same theme and mood as the rest of the book--and should act to inspire the child's imagination rather than discouraging it.
4. Evaluate the overall message of the book. Many children's books concern themselves with tolerance, friendship, working together and overcoming difficulties without help. Books for older children might embrace more complex themes, such as the difficulty of knowing do the right thing. Ask yourself if the book conveys values that you agree with and want your child to adopt? It's not necessarily a bad book if it doesn't, but it probably isn't right for your child.
