Children's Literature, Briefly

Chapter 3.... How to Recognize a Well-Written Book


Tunnell, Michael O. and James S. Jacobs. Children's Literature, Briefly. 4e. Upper Sadle River NJ: Pearson/Merrill Prentice Hall, 2008.

When people describe a book as "well-written", they are most likely meaning that the book is pleasing to them. However, to attain the title of a well-written book, the book should pass a few qualifications. First of all, the author has to choose the right word choice. The word choice canbe conveyed through vocabulary, language, and dialogue. Typically the text needs to explain the events in visual way so that the reader can see what the writer are talking about. Text can be delivered in other forms as well, such as in an understatement. Oftentimes, if the author has done their job, they can end with a short and brief statement that proves how well the reader has understood the story.

Another form a author can deliver their text is through an unexpected insight. This thought can pop into your head as "oh, he's right!". Unexpected insights can also make you laugh, or realize something you may not have thought about before. The important part of writing a book is making sure that you can get the point across to your reader. In other words, good writing should be believable and interesting. A teacher also has to be careful that the book they are choosing for their students does not undermine them, or use a condescending tone.