Young Reviewers Program

What Is Involved in Being a Young Reviewer?

Started more than 20 years ago, the program supports the CBC’s longstanding mission to evaluate books for children, parents, librarians, and educators by focusing on how books can affect young readers.

The Children’s Book Committee

Members of the CBC have a wide range of experience in the world of education, writing, and book publishing, but the voices of children through the Young Reviewers Program provide the committee with valuable insights into the literature we read throughout each year. Reviews are shared with committee members at weekly meetings and, at the end of the year, the CBC will consider many criteria when compiling the Best Children’s Books of the Year List, including the thoughts of our Young Reviewers. Excerpts from some reviews are shared on social media and at our awards ceremony in the spring.

Guidelines

A review from a Young Reviewer (YR) shares the child’s opinion of the book—it is not a book report or plot summary. The CBC encourages children to share what they liked or didn’t like about the book and why, as well as a recommended age range and an overall rating. If there are pictures, we ask how they complement the written part of the story. Video reviews are also welcome. Samples of written reviews can be found in the Forms and Exemplars section.

Our youngest reviewers may start out by just reading a book or writing only a sentence or two (often with a caretaker’s help), but eventually we hope they will move to writing detailed reviews. Although not required, some older children will write a few paragraphs. A YR may receive feedback to focus more on opinions (likes and dislikes), provide more details, or explain their thinking on a certain point.