About Literate Parents

Recently, some friends asked me about various children's books and whether or not they were appropriate for their children. I found that I did not have a short answer to this. Content that bothers some parents will not bother others. Some kids are ready for certain topics at a younger age than others.

I think that most parents would agree that there is a degree of age-appropriateness in everything. In books, as in life, some topics and ways of presenting them are for all ages and some are not. My goal for this site is to inform parents of what is in these books so parents can make their own decisions as to whether and when a book is appropriate for their children.

Providing relevant information, rather than a blanket recommendation, accounts for differences in children (what is appropriate for one child at 10 may not be appropriate for that child's sibling until she is 12) and differences in parenting styles (some parents would be bothered by swearing in a book; others would not). I made age recommendations based on what an intelligent child of that age would enjoy. As such, you may find that my age recommendations start at a younger age than is typical.

I have only included what I judge to be quality literature. Many things go into my idea of quality; story line, the value of the themes, character development, and educational value are some of them. I recognize that other books have value for different reasons, but I chose to include only quality literature on this site. Therefore, I recommend all of the books reviewed on this site.

Why use the site

• "I encourage my child to read, but I don't always have time to preview the books myself to see if they are appropriate."
• "I love that my child loves to read, but I want to know that what he is reading is appropriate."
• "I've heard xxx is a good writer but that she uses language I might object to. I'd like to know what is in those books so I can make my own decision."
• "My child was given a book as a gift, but I've heard some strange things about it. I need a quick look at what might be objectionable so I can make up my own mind."
• "I want to guide my child toward books appropriate for her age, gender, and maturity."
• "I want to use books to talk with my child about relevant issues."
• "I want to read and discuss books with my child."

About the Reviewer

Sara has a special affinity for children's books, as evidenced by her well-stocked shelves. Reading, being read to, and trips to the library are some of her earliest and fondest memories. One of the great joys of having children was sharing her favorite books with them. What a delight that both of her children share this affinity!

Sara holds a BA in political science and an MA in the teaching of English, both from Columbia University. She taught English to middle schoolers for several years. Sara currently teaches college English courses, writes English textbooks, and works as a writing tutor.