This may see, very self-explanatory, but I wanted to take some time to explain a little bit about how I personally categorize them into age ratings and how I grade them.
Age Ratings:
When I review a book I will be rating what age group I think the book is best for. Keep in mind that my ratings are based on both my personal feelings and my experiences with children of many different ages and reading levels. Also, even though I categorize books into certain age ratings, I am not one who believes that any sort of age rating needs to be followed. I for one obviously enjoy reading books far below my reading level, or this blog would not exist. My age ratings are just meant to give a general idea of what age group the book seems to be best for, always remember that children older and younger could still enjoy any book. With that being said, here are my age ratings:
- Infant (from birth-1 year of age) These books are usually sturdy board books that can withstand being handled roughly and even drooled on. It is important for them to have pictures and simple words. Babies learn to find comfort in being shown a book and can begin to learn how books work by playing with them as well.
- Early Childhood (2-4 year olds) These books have pictures, simple stories, and are often predictable or even interactive. Children learn how to hold a book right, turn the pages and can begin to understand that the silly looking symbols on the pages are the words to the story.
- Beginners (Kindergarten age) Around 5 years of age children should know the alphabet and can begin to learn what sounds the letters make if they don’t already know. It is important for their books to have pictures, short but entertaining stories, and words they can learn to recognize. These books still tend to be very predictable.
- Early Readers (1st & 2nd grade) These books still are very simple, but are geared for children who are learning to become confident independent readers. The wording should still be simple enough for them, but meant to also expand their vocabulary.
- Intermediate Readers (3rd, 4th, & 5th grade) These books are meant for children who can read independently and silently with confidence. Chapter books without as many pictures become more popular now. The vocabulay is a bit more challenging, and the story may have more complicated plots.
- Strong Readers (6th, 7th, & 8th grade) Books for children at this level have a much more advanced vocabulary and have more complicated plotlines with deeper concepts and themes. Children at this level are confident readers who are able to use context clues to figure out the meaning of words they don’t know as they expand their vocabulary.
- Advanced Readers (high school/teen years) Many of these books are written on the same level as an adult’s novel would be, but with concepts and themes that may appeal more to the younger crowd. Books at this level should be more challenging in their vocabulary, plotlines, and concepts. This type of book is meant for older children but requires a higher level of reading that is comparable to an adult.
Grades:
I will be giving all the books that I review a grade. The grade will be based on three criteria, content, illustrations (if applicable), and readability. The book’s final grade is basically it’s GPA, or an average based on what grade I gave it in the three categories. For content I will grade the book’s plot, theme, characters, and the way that the author delivered their message. Illustrations are obviously graded on how appealing I find the pictures in the book. There is no set “best type of illustration” to me. I enjoy both color and black and white, as well as realistic and abstract pictures. Basically I will rate the illustrations just on how appealing they are to my eye as well as how they fit into or help move the story. Readability will be graded by the author’s use of words and how well the story keeps the reader’s attention. Is the story too easy or too complicated? Is it boring and slow or fast-paced and exciting? Is the vocabulary too simple or repetitive when it shouldn’t be? Or is the vocabulary far too advanced or below the level of the reader that the plot or theme seems to be meant for? These are some of the questions I will be thinking about as I grade the readability of a book. Books will be graded as follows:
- A – This is the best of the best! Books with this grade are not only ones that I recommend, but I seriously think that they are must haves in any book collection and are worth revisiting time and time again.
- B – These books are really good, maybe even great. I highly recommend reading them and really believe they will be enjoyed. There may just be one or two little things that keep them from being the best of the best.
- C – These books are good, but there may be a few things I disliked in the plotline, characters, wording, or pictures. Basically the books are good, but only average, with nothing amazing enough to make them a “must read”, though I would still recommend them to people.
- D – These books honestly aren’t very good. They may not be terrible, but they have enough problems that I wouldn’t bother with them again. I wouldn’t recommend them, but I really don’t hate them, just have issues with enough parts that I didn’t really enjoy reading them.
- F – These books are complete and utter failures. I not only wont recommend them, I would recommend not wasting your time with them. Hopefully I wont have many, if any at all, that I think completely fail, but the grade is here just in case.
