Over at Chasing Ray, Colleen Mondor has written a piece entitled Building Credibility: Eighth in a Series on Reviewing. This was, in part, prompted by recent discussions around the web about KidzBookBuzz.com and their launch of "for-pay" blog tours for authors. I don't want to re-hash all that here, but do want to address the general issue of reviewing.
Many of the blogs in my feed reader are written by librarians and professional reviewers. I learn a lot by reading their work and am a better-informed reader because of the time and energy they put into their personal and professional sites. These are folks who review books for a living, so their goals and purposes in writing are very different from mine.
Why do I review books? I must answer this question by first telling you who my audience (or intended audience) is. I review books for teachers. I see great value in helping them find books that they can use for instruction across the curriculum. I want to highlight books that otherwise may not find their way into the classroom. I want teachers to see the value of poetry across the curriculum. So, in attempting to do this, I review books that suit this purpose. The downside to this approach to reviewing is that you aren't likely to come across reviews here that are highly critical. While I will point out the strengths and weaknesses of books I recommend, I won't highlight books that I think are problematic. My reviews also tend to discuss the instructional implications or fit of a book, something not seen in other reviews.
I am cognizant of the credibility issues that plague blogging book reviewers, and wonder if blogs like mine detract from the credibility of "real" (paid and/or professional) reviewers. I don't have an answer to that, but hope and believe that those who read TMRE regularly know who I am and what I try to do, and will recognize the value in my approach to reviewing, as different as it may be.
As a wrap-up, I suppose this is a good place for a little full disclosure.
Many of the blogs in my feed reader are written by librarians and professional reviewers. I learn a lot by reading their work and am a better-informed reader because of the time and energy they put into their personal and professional sites. These are folks who review books for a living, so their goals and purposes in writing are very different from mine.
Why do I review books? I must answer this question by first telling you who my audience (or intended audience) is. I review books for teachers. I see great value in helping them find books that they can use for instruction across the curriculum. I want to highlight books that otherwise may not find their way into the classroom. I want teachers to see the value of poetry across the curriculum. So, in attempting to do this, I review books that suit this purpose. The downside to this approach to reviewing is that you aren't likely to come across reviews here that are highly critical. While I will point out the strengths and weaknesses of books I recommend, I won't highlight books that I think are problematic. My reviews also tend to discuss the instructional implications or fit of a book, something not seen in other reviews.
I am cognizant of the credibility issues that plague blogging book reviewers, and wonder if blogs like mine detract from the credibility of "real" (paid and/or professional) reviewers. I don't have an answer to that, but hope and believe that those who read TMRE regularly know who I am and what I try to do, and will recognize the value in my approach to reviewing, as different as it may be.
As a wrap-up, I suppose this is a good place for a little full disclosure.
- I do not get paid to review books. (This is not said with any sense of haughtiness on my part or disdain for those who do get paid. There is a very real need for professional reviewers. I am not experienced enough for this, nor do I have time to take on a job of this magnitude.)
- I do not receive money for this blog. There are no ads (paid or otherwise) and clicking links will not generate money for anyone except the Cybils. Money generated for the Cybils is for prizes for the winners.
- I do receive free books from publishers on the order of 20 or 30 a year, though as a member of a Cybils nominating panel last fall I received far more than usual. The books I receive are put in my teaching library and used by preservice teachers in their courses, field placements and student teaching. Books I cannot use are donated to two local elementary schools for use in their libraries.
- I am not a particularly fast reviewer. This may make me a poor investment on the part of publishers, but I promise that I do get around to reviews in good time!
- I generally review only nonfiction and poetry. Once in a while I will review picture books or chapter books if I can find a direct connection to the teaching of math, science or social studies. Some books are reviewed here, while others appear on my other blog, Open Wide, Look Inside.
