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Teachers, yes... what about parents?
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From: HUMMINGRK at aol.com <HUMMINGRK>
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 13:21:45 EDT
Betty Tisel asked if parents/grandparents read reviews...
Of course, some do and some don't. If we took a poll of the parents/grands who are subscribers to CCBC-NET, I bet they would all say yes, but what about the rest of the world? Many of my friends who have chilldren read reviews in weekend newpapers, but those reviews are so limited. (And, unfortunately, many people do not read any reviews--do not read.) The most accessible place for most parents to get book recommendations is right down the street at the library or at a bookstore with a broad children's department and knowledgable sales people.
A parent's perspective reading reviews is different from a librarian's or a teacher's--parents buy fewer books. As a parent, I'm looking for books to feed my childrens' imaginations, but I don't worry if the books fit a curriculum or would be widely read. I don't even care how much they cost since we can always borrow the books from the library!
However, as much as I enjoy reviews, I confess that most of my favorite books have been suggested to me by librarians and booksellers. I feel that I personally owe a huge debt to all the librarians in my life who have steered me to great books. And now, living in the Chicago area, the staff of Anderson's Bookshops has widened my reading experiences with their enthusiastic recommendations.
Reviews keep the children's book community aware of new work and creative thinking, even if word of mouth finally gets the books into the hands of teachers, parents, and children.
Lee Sullivan Hill, author Clarendon Hills, Illinois
Received on Mon 21 Sep 1998 12:21:45 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 21 Sep 1998 13:21:45 EDT
Betty Tisel asked if parents/grandparents read reviews...
Of course, some do and some don't. If we took a poll of the parents/grands who are subscribers to CCBC-NET, I bet they would all say yes, but what about the rest of the world? Many of my friends who have chilldren read reviews in weekend newpapers, but those reviews are so limited. (And, unfortunately, many people do not read any reviews--do not read.) The most accessible place for most parents to get book recommendations is right down the street at the library or at a bookstore with a broad children's department and knowledgable sales people.
A parent's perspective reading reviews is different from a librarian's or a teacher's--parents buy fewer books. As a parent, I'm looking for books to feed my childrens' imaginations, but I don't worry if the books fit a curriculum or would be widely read. I don't even care how much they cost since we can always borrow the books from the library!
However, as much as I enjoy reviews, I confess that most of my favorite books have been suggested to me by librarians and booksellers. I feel that I personally owe a huge debt to all the librarians in my life who have steered me to great books. And now, living in the Chicago area, the staff of Anderson's Bookshops has widened my reading experiences with their enthusiastic recommendations.
Reviews keep the children's book community aware of new work and creative thinking, even if word of mouth finally gets the books into the hands of teachers, parents, and children.
Lee Sullivan Hill, author Clarendon Hills, Illinois
Received on Mon 21 Sep 1998 12:21:45 PM CDT
