In selecting the books for the master list, the Bluebonnet Selection Committee consults four main review journals: Booklist; The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books; The Horn Book Magazine (and The Horn Book Guide); and School Library Journal.

One criterion for a book to appear on the master list is that the book should receive at least one positive review in a journal.  But the committee has found over the years that the reviews offer so much more than a thumbs up/thumbs down service; these journals allow members of the committee to think about the books in many different ways.  As each of you considers these selections, and as parents wonder if certain books would indeed reach their own children, the Bluebonnet Selection Committee believes that the full-text reviews we consulted will also help each of you.

Here’s a quick reminder about each of the journals:

Booklist (http://www.ala.org/ala/booklist/booklist.htm )is the official journal of the American Library Association.  The books reviewed by Booklist are recommended for purchase for small and medium sized libraries and for school libraries.  A star denotes a book of outstanding quality.  If a book does not have a Booklist review, that book is not recommended for purchase by this journal.

The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books.  (http://bccb.lis.uiuc.edu/ )Books reviewed in the Bulletin receive one of the following ratings: (R) Recommended; (Ad) Additional book of acceptable quality for collections needing more material in the area; (M) Marginal book that is either slight in content or has many weaknesses; (NR) Not Recommended; (SpC) Subject matter or treatment tends to limit the book to Special Collections; (SpR) a book that has appeal for the unusual reader only.  In addition, an * notes a book of special distinction.

The Horn Book Magazine (http://www.hbook.com/ )reviews books that are recommended for purchase. A star denotes a book of outstanding quality.  Books not reviewed by The Horn Book Magazine may receive Horn Book Guide (http://www.hbook.com/ ) reviews.  The Guide utilizes the following rating system: (1) Outstanding, noteworthy in style, content, and / or illustration; (2) Superior, well above average; (3) Recommended, satisfactory in style, content, and / or illustration; (4) Recommended with minor flaws; (5) Marginal, seriously flawed, but with some redeeming quality; (6) unacceptable in style, content, and / or illustration.

School Library Journal. http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/ )Books reviewed in School Library Journal receive both positive and negative reviews.  The content of the review will indicate the book’s recommendation.