From: Susan Lempke <71460.1037>
Date: Mon, 14 Sep 1998 12:55:18 -0400

Steven Engelfried asks if any of us try out picture books on children before writing reviews, and lists several good reasons why it may not be worth the effort. I can think of one reason why it is, though I'll admit I don't always get the chance. Picture books are by their nature meant to be read out loud, and the reviewer can't get an accurate sense of how well the words flow from merely reading silently. It feels silly to read aloud to yourself, so it's much more fun to use children as guinea pigs. I always remind myself, though, that while the opinions of my children are interesting, they have in their day dearly loved The Care Bears and thought Gilligan's Island was the height of humor.

For the record, their reactions to Arlene Sardine were "I guess it might be
. . . educational" (said my 11-year-old, dubiously) and "What the heck is this? The main character died halfway through the book!" (said my 8-yearold).

  --Susan Dove Lempke (Booklist reviewer)
Received on Mon 14 Sep 1998 11:55:18 AM CDT