Children's Science Book Review Home

SOME Factors You May Want to Consider in Evaluating Science Books

Organization and Presentation of Subject Material:

• are the illustrations age appropriate and of good quality?
• are they appealing?
• is the text age appropriate?
• is the text easy to follow?
• is the text useful (factual without misleading oversimplification)?
• are terms well-defined? Is there a glossary?
• is the scope or depth of coverage a “good fit” for the intended readers?

Accuracy:

• is the book free of obvious errors or distortions?
• is the author an authority (or qualified to write) in this area? Does the author collaborate with experts?
• are the facts current and presented objectively, without bias?

Encourages Further Inquiry:

• for example, is there a Table of Contents, Index, Bibliography, or Suggested Web Sites?
• is Science represented as an active process, conducted by real people?

Professors from the University of Miami and the University of New Orleans have collaborated on research on science literature (see “Science as Inquiry” in Book Links (2000) and “Better Books, Better Teaching” in Science and Children (Oct. 2003)). In the latter article, they noted 5 emergent themes which merited further encouragement:

1. Showing science as everyday endeavor;
2. Presenting science with engaging, enjoyable stories;
3. Showing inquiry skills in practice;
4. Personalizing Science; and
5. Showing how science ‘facts' continue to evolve over time.

Robie Harris says, “[I had to] make sure that the science and my ‘writing' of the science was as up-to-date and accurate as possible….and…to make sure that what I had to say was also psychologically appropriate and useful for kids and teens.” --From Something About The Author.

Finally, children generally have less knowledge or context with which to evaluate a book, especially a more technical one. As we select and evaluate Science books for children, it's important to remember that “good (Science) trade books open children's eyes to things they didn't know or didn't know they wanted to know.” – Maria Sosa in Exploring Science In the Library (2000)