From: Janice Del Negro <delnegro>
Date: Wed, 16 Sep 1998 15:07:38 -0500 (CDT)

Grace makes (yet another) excellent point.

Not only do the editors know their reviewers, but the reviewers always have the option of choosing not to review a book if and when they realize it's just not their kind of book.

As for how much credence you can give a thumbs down review- I think it depends on whether or not the reviewer gives concrete reasons for their opinion, as opposed to vague generalizations. (Along with the little sign above my computer that says "Remember who you're writing for" are a whole lot of other little signs that say things like "When in doubt, look at the book *again*", "Be specific!", and "You're not a mind reader-don't assume you know what the author/illustrator intended".)

I look for familiar reviewer names (does anyone else do this?) sometimes because I know I tend to agree with them (mostly) and sometimes because I know I *never* agree with them (mostly), and sometimes just because I like the way they write. Comparing reviews of the same title from journal to journal (especially when they disagree) is fascinating.

Janice M. Del Negro

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books GSLIS/University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign delnegro at alexia.lis.uiuc.edu

On Wed, 16 Sep 1998, GraceAnne A. DeCandido wrote:
Received on Wed 16 Sep 1998 03:07:38 PM CDT