Book Review Mini-Critique
Below you will find ratings (scale of 1-5) with descriptions for the major parts of your book
followed by your Readers’ Favorite review. Although these are general ratings we hope they
will give you an insight into how others may view the different components of your book.
These are the opinions of your reviewer, and although your reviewer is not an expert literary
critic or professional editor, they are at the very least, an avid reader of books just like
yours.
Title: What the Lizard Said
Author: Nels Hanson and Mandana Talieh
Genre: Children – Animals
Appearance : 4
The appearance of a book can make a significant impact on the
experience of a reader, whose enjoyment is often enhanced by an
enticing cover, an intriguing table of contents, interesting chapter
headings, and when possible, eye-catching illustrations.
Plot : 4
The characters of a book should be well defined with strengths and flaws,
and while they do not have to be likable, the reader does have to be able
to form a connection with them. The tone should be consistent, the theme
should be clear, and the plot should be original or told from a unique
perspective. For informative books–those without plot and characters–
this rating refers primarily to your concept and how well you presented it.
Development : 4
Development refers to how effectively you told your story or discussed
your topic. The dialogue should be realistic, the descriptions should be
vivid, and the material should be concise and coherent. Organization is
also a key factor, especially for informative books–those without plot and
characters. The order in which you tell your story or explain your topic
and how smoothly it flows can have a huge impact on the reader’s
understanding and enjoyment of the material.
Formatting : 4
Formatting is the single most overlooked area by independent authors.
The way in which you describe scenes, display dialogue, and shift point of
view can make or break your story. In addition, excessive grammatical
errors and typos can give your book an amateurish feel and even put off
readers completely.
Marketability : 4
Marketability refers to how effectively you wrote your book for your target
audience. Authors may include content that is above or below the
understanding of their target reader, or include concepts, opinions or
language that can accidentally confuse or alienate some readers.
Although by its nature this rating is very subjective, a very low rating here
and poor reviews may indicate an issue with your book in this area.
Overall Opinion : 4
The overall starred rating takes into account all these elements and
describes the overall reading experience of your reviewer. This is the
official Readers’ Favorite review rating for your book.
Review : 4
Reviewed by Michelle Robertson for Readers’ Favorite
Wise Dog and Jimmi are very good friends. Although they may dress
alike, they are very different from one another. While Wise Dog is often
cautious, careful and wise, Jimmi sometimes can be too quick to act as he
has no fear of consequences. Wise Dog began to worry about Jimmi as he
did not look where he was going when he crossed a busy street, without a
care. As friends often do not take each other’s advice, sometimes the
advice from a complete stranger is the advice that is effective. Come join
Wise Dog and Jimmi as Wise Dog takes Jimmi on an adventure to meet
many different animals.
What the Lizard Said by Nels Hanson and Mandana Talieh is an endearing
children’s book introducing young readers to many different kinds of
animals and their hardships, successes, and ways of life. The authors
chose to have their story in rhyme. Young readers will love this fact as
they often enjoy books containing rhyming text because it makes the
story more fun, exciting, and understandable for them. The bright,
colorful and skillfully drawn pictures are sure to spark a young reader’s or
listener’s excitement as the story unfolds. This book offers parents and
educators a chance to interact with readers in a discussion group or
individual conversation, discussing what each child thought about the story
and its meaning. Enjoy this short, fun and colorful book.
