Ratings & Criteria

Books and book lists are rated using a five-star scale:

5 Stars – Essential elements of my children’s library.
4 Stars – Very good to excellent choices.
3 Stars – Good, but not excellent — usually worth borrowing from the library.
2 Stars – Mediocre quality, or containing themes which may be objectionable.
1 Star – Poor or harmful — characterized by poor writing and/or negative themes.

Books are rated by five criteria.  The best stories:

  • Demonstrate excellent writing and illustrations. Well-written books are conceptually and aesthetically pleasing, fun to read and easy to enter into.  Conceptual quality and skillful execution is essential in capturing readers’ attention, because a bad or boring story with a good message is still a bad story.  Good writing and good art are also worthwhile for their own sakes — as expressions of human creativity, they beautifully exemplify the creativity of God and bring Him glory.
  • Support biblical truth. Where spiritual and theological concepts are discussed they should be in harmony with the Bible’s teaching, especially regarding the origin of creation and the purpose of humanity.  Good should exist in opposition against evil; stories should support a biblical view of authority in the areas of nationalism, creation stewardship, and family.  I am especially wary of stories in which any authority is flaunted or abused — where those in authority misuse their power, or where those under authority subvert it through deception or rebellion.
  • Contribute to an understanding of Christian character. Christian virtues (courage, loyalty, kindness, moral purity, and others) should be exemplified and rewarded, and faults (pride, treachery, laziness, cruelty, and so on) ought to meet with appropriate consequences.  Within this context there ought to be a measure of grace and the realization that it is from our heart that actions emanate.
  • Help model appropriate ways of relating to others. I especially emphasize stories that portray strong families — where parents are in love with and loyal to each other, as well as being wisely and affectionately involved in the lives of their children.  Children should be respectful of parents and have healthy relationships with their siblings and other people.  Where problems in these relationships exist, they should be dealt with in constructive ways.
  • Expand readers’ experience of the world, opening up experiences they would not normally have in their everyday lives.  Science and nature books, historical fiction, stories about other countries and ways of life, and fantasies all help broaden readers’ understanding of the world.

Because other parents and educators have their own perspectives on what makes a good book, I have tried to explain in my reviews how I arrived at a given star rating.  In many cases, I feel that one or another of the five criteria are in tension with each other.  In making their selections, parents will need to weigh whether the book fits their own criteria.

Book lists are rated by three criteria:

  • Accordance of the authors’ perspective and criteria with mine.
  • How well I think selections match the criteria provided.
  • What star ratings I tend to give to titles from this list.