When choosing books for young children, there
are a lot of factors to take into account. Children's books are available by
the millions and most of them are quite inexpensive. Before purchasing,
consider the author, the actual information being conveyed, and the storyline
and the pictures/graphics. (To print this form, see bottom of page for the pdf file.)
Author
Review
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Accept
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Reject
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Personal and
professional history promotes Christ and Christianity? (1 Tim. 3)
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Religious views
and practices are harmonious with the Bible? (1 Tim. 4)
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Other media
produced by author are consistent with the one under review?
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Not sure about a book? Send YCM the
title, author and ISBN number. We’ll evaluate it for you and let you know.
Text
Review (not
story-line; but actual text, wording & information conveyed)
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Accept
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Reject
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Does the book teach
real and meaningful content? (Phil. 4: 8; NAEYC)
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Will the book
provide solid, valuable knowledge? (CG, 193; 2 Peter 1:5-7)
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Is the main
character(s) in the story unfavorable at first? (Tsai, et al, 2007; Mares & Acosta, 2008)
Since children
tend to be attracted to the exciting and initial introduction of a character,
a yes answer here would indicate that this book should be rejected.
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Will the text help
to develop a child’s faith and trust in God? (2 Peter 1:5-7)
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Will the text help
the child learn and establish Christian virtues? (2 Peter 1:5-7)
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Does the text
promote the concept of temperance/self-control? (2 Peter 1:5-7)
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Does the text
promote the concept of patience or forbearance? (2 Peter 1:5-7)
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Will the story help
the child learn and establish godliness? (2 Peter 1:5-7)
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Does the story teach
kindness, empathy, selflessness or service? (2 Peter 1:5-7)
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Does the story
promote pure charity/love? (1 Cor. 13; 2 Peter 1:5-7)
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If a Bible story
book, does the text share accurate Bible stories/concepts?
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Will the text lead
the mind to the real, natural and enduring? (CG, 188.3)
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Is the text
consistent with Philippians 4:8?
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Not sure about a book? Send YCM the
title, author and ISBN number. We’ll evaluate it for you and let you know.
Story Line
& Graphic/Picture Review
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Accept
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Reject
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Does the story-line
give the children something to think of that is out of and above themselves?
(CG, 188.2)
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Will the story draw
the child toward Christ?
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The storyline
focuses on “how to ___” rather than “how not to ___”.
For example: Look for
books that teach children how to behave rather than how not to behave. If you
focus on the right there’s no need to introduce or focus on the wrong (Mares & Acosta, 2008).
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The
graphics/pictures promote the real, natural and the enduring? (CG, 188.3)
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The
graphics/pictures promote a love of self and showmanship?
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The graphics/pictures
promote humanism, pantheism, homosexuality, multiple gods, or use New-Age
symbols, emblems, etc.?
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Not sure about a book? Send YCM the
title, author and ISBN number. We’ll evaluate it for you and let you know. References
©2010,
Young Child Ministries.
Bible
referenced all from the KingJames Version
Mares, M.L., & E. Acosta. 2008. Be Kind to
Three-legged Dogs: Children’s Literal Interpretations of TV’s Moral Lessons. Media Psychology 11 (3): 377-99. http://commarts.wisc.edu/mares/three-legged-dogs.pdf
NAEYC,
National Association for the Education of Young Children.
Tsai,
J., and others. (2007). “Learning WhatFeelings to Desire: Socialization of Ideal Affect Through Children’sStorybooks,”
Personality and Social Psychology
Bulletin, Vol. 33, No. 1, 17-30.
White, E. G. (1954/2002). Child Guidance. Hagerstown, MD:
Review and Herald Publishing Association.
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 Updating...
Ċ Christine Gillan Byrne, Feb 20, 2013, 12:44 PM
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