Age 12-16. The Harry Potter series is entertaining and well written, and follows a good-against-evil motif that is in some harmony with a Christian worldview. The magic in the early books seems for the most part fantastical, although the later books move into darker, more occultic territory. More problematic is Harry’s isolationism, as well as the absence of trustworthy, competent adults in his life…. I would recommend that if the books are approved, their introduction should be delayed until the early teen years, when readers are old enough to engage the problematic elements with the help of a discerning adult.

Age 08-12. 2 Stars. Sara Louise Bradshaw is an awkward, pretentious young woman consumed with envy and bitterness against her twin sister Caroline… This book… has been enjoyed by many readers because of its masterful writing and the genuine pathos of its protagonist. But Louise’s faults unfortunately permeate this compelling story. I’m willing to be challenged, but I believe that while Paterson has done a great job of describing adolescent struggles, her protagonist is never allowed to fully transcend them. This, combined with the truly poisonous nature of Sara Louise’s family, makes this a story that may do more harm than good.

Age 00-04. 2 Stars. [The textured surfaces] make the book more enjoyable for young babies because they naturally use their tactile senses to interact with the natural world. While babies do like these books, they are oppressively dull for grownups to read and, as I discussed in My First Word Board Book, they aren’t very effective in helping babies build vocabulary.

Age 00-04. 2 Stars. DK publishes the popular “My First Word Books” series, made up of word lists illustrated with brightly colored photographs…. My problem with these word-list books is that while objects are grouped thematically (multiple articles of clothing on a double-page spread, for example), they are experienced apart from their natural context…. Preverbal babies and young toddlers respond very well to picture books with images of human faces. They also love to listen to rhythmic, repetitive books, which have the added advantage of some genuine story quality that baby can grow into.

Age 04-08. 2 Stars. A nice little introduction to the Greek pantheon of gods. This book is rendered very engagingly for young children, with the words and details carefully selected, and well-drawn pictures telling much of the story. Unfortunately the stories are told rather uncritically…. The book is very good at capturing a child’s imagination, but at ages 4-8, children are not equipped with the critical thinking necessary to separate these mythologies from their Bible stories. Additionally, many of the Greek myths involve violent and abusive behavior, bitter feuds, andthe misuse of sex, which may not take the imagination in the direction parents want it to go. At a later age, this book might make a good once-read introduction for reluctant readers to introduce a more in-depth presentation of Greek mythology.

Age 08-12. 2 Stars. A combination of The Wild Children and The Westing Game, with a dash of fantasy added in the form of a magical merry-go-round that can bring either youthfulness or adulthood… One element of concern is that there is no a healthy family depicted in any part of the story… Another possible concern is that the homeless children are forced to steal in order to survive… It could be enjoyed with caution by readers who are discerning, but ought not to be introduced to children who will not recognize its playfully unreal qualities.

Age 00-04. 2 Stars. Usborne comes out with a number of good board books, but this one is pretty forgettable. Each page features a number, with an accompanying animal, brightly drawn in a style consistent with a six-year-old’s artistic ability. The animals are friendly-looking, but I prefer artwork to raise the standards of readers rather than conforming to their own abilities. Baby may enjoy paging through by himself, but won’t learn the numbers since this cognitive ability comes later than you want him to be reading this.

Age 00-04. 2 Stars. This book is a brief and playful introduction to the different kinds of teeth that are found in the world — reminiscent of The Foot Book but not as good. The text is by Dr. Seuss and illustrations by Joe Mathieu; while children might enjoy it, it’s not nearly in the leage of some of Seuss’s best work, although it does include wordplay and the wonderful rhythmic text he is known for. It is disconcerting to hear Seussical rhyme with illustrations that are so different from his, and the effect is a little incoherent — not quite hitting the mark.

Age 00-04. 2 Stars. This is a very different version of the fairy tale told by Rumer Godden about an old woman who lives in a vinegar bottle…. this one is clearly intended for younger readers; there is some verbal repetition (“What a pity, pity, pity”) as opposed to the more lyrical style in Godden. The artwork is brash and colorful, and the moral lesson is much less subtle. If Godden’s version didn’t exist this one might make a good library checkout, but I’m afraid it might spoil readers for Godden’s most excellent story.

Age 00-04. 2 Stars. In this episode, the boy and his family are going to dinner at a fancy restaurant. The frog stows away in the boy’s pocket, and while the family is ordering jumps out and begins to wreak havoc among the other diners…. His lack of penitence at having caused his family such trouble might be concerning to some parents, and the parental anger is far more concerning… However, this lighthearted fantasy portrays a bit of real human nature, allowing children to think about what different people are feeling in different scenes. It also provides an example of what not to do in a restaurant, and might actually be a means of preparing a young reader for the experience…. This is a funny library checkout but probably shouldn’t live on the free-reading shelf.