Skip to main content

Kids are the experts in reviewing children's books

  • Story Highlights
  • Children often know what works best in children's books
  • Publishers have turned down chance to publish several classics
  • CNN.com turned to three children to handle book reviews
  • Next Article in Entertainment »
Decrease font Decrease font
Enlarge font Enlarge font

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- What William Goldman once said about Hollywood -- "Nobody knows anything" -- can easily describe the decisions made by children's book publishers.

Ballerina Dreams

"Ballerina Dreams" is intended for children ages 4 to 8.

Dr. Seuss' "And to Think I Saw It on Mulberry Street" reportedly was rejected by 28 publishers before it was finally released.

Maurice Sendak's "Where the Wild Things Are" inspired debate over its appropriateness for children and was also turned down by several publishers.

Even J.K. Rowling received at least eight rejection notices for her first "Harry Potter" book. That beloved series has now made her Britain's wealthiest woman.

So, when it comes to reviewing children's books, it's best to turn to the experts -- children. Audio slide show: Listen to children review books »

Little ones can sense when illustrations aren't quite right, when characters don't fit with the story and when the writing inspires a desire to do ... well, just about anything besides read a book.

So CNN.com turned to three staffers' children, each a different age, to review books appropriate for their cohorts. I-Report: Share your children's book reviews with us

advertisement

Kaya Wheatley, 4, is a suburban Atlanta, Georgia, preschooler. Rosa Williams, 6, is a kindergartner at a suburban Atlanta elementary school. And Andrew Oglesby, 8 -- an old hand at this reviewing business -- is a second-grader at a suburban Atlanta school.

Click here » to listen to the reviews. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

  • E-mail
  • Save
  • Print