the children's book reviews

Where to Find the Best Children’s Book Reviews

Sarah S. Davis

Sarah S. Davis holds a BA in English from the University of Pennsylvania, a Master's of Library Science from Clarion University, and an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Sarah has also written for Electric Literature, Kirkus Reviews, Audible, Psych Central, and more. Sarah is the founder of Broke By Books blog and runs a tarot reading business, Divination Vibration . Twitter: @missbookgoddess Instagram: @Sarahbookgoddess

View All posts by Sarah S. Davis

There are more great children’s books being published than ever before, but how do you know which ones to read? Fortunately, today there are so many ways to access children’s book reviews. Here are some of the best places to find reviews of children’s literature.

Part 1: General Children’s Book Reviews

In this first section of our roundup of the best children’s book review websites, I’ll discuss publications that cover all things kid lit.

The Children’s Book Review

As its name implies, The Children’s Book Review is all about book reviews of children’s literature. With huge coverage of all kinds of kid lit, The Children’s Book Review is simple to browse books by subject and books by age, along with buzzy “trending” books and “showcase” books. Your typical book review lays out the specs (intended age, page count, etc.) and provides a medium-sized review with information about the author and/or illustrator. The Children’s Book Review is definitely one of the most comprehensive book review sites for kid lit, and it supplements its reviews with author interviews and curated lists.

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Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media is an organization that reviews media (books, TV, movies, apps, games) with a special focus on educating parents and other adults on “What Parents Should Know,” vis-à-vis content warnings and age appropriateness. Some of the qualities Common Sense Media covers include “Educational Value,” “Positive Messages,” “Positive Role Models and Representations,” and “Language.” Especially notable is Common Sense Media’s focus on diversity, with an invitation to reach out if they’ve “missed anything on diversity.” Also of note, Common Sense Media is one of the few children’s book reviews websites that rates books using a star system. If you just want to know quickly how good a book is, navigate over to Common Sense Media and find a book’s star rating.

The Horn Book

Children’s book review magazine The Horn Book takes its name from”horn books,” which were some of the earliest books made to educate children. The Horn Book is a leading publication in print and online for finding children’s book reviews. This treasured magazine’s website is well-organized, and you can find all the reviews in an easy-to-search database . For the best of the best, browse by The Horn Book ‘s starred reviews . If you buy a paid subscription, you’ll have access to the huge, searchable archive of more than 70,000 reviews, known as “The Guide.” There, you can browse book reviews by Authors/Illustrators, Subjects, Series, and Reviewers. Though some reviews cost a subscription to view, some content, like the “Book Bundles” (check out the one on “Our Bodies, Our Selves” for an example), which group together like-minded books based on themes and include bite-sized reviews, are available for free.

Kirkus Reviews Children’s Books

One of the leading book review sites for all genres and age levels, Kirkus has plenty of kid lit content. Kirkus lets you easily sort by different categories like age, format (picture book, chapter book, etc.), sub-genre (biographies and memoirs, historical fiction), and category (e.g. fiction vs. nonfiction). You can also filter by what books get a coveted Kirkus star. What’s great about Kirkus’s unique format is each review is brief and to the point. If you don’t want to go digging for the bottom line, Kirkus’s kid lit reviews are a good place to start.

Publishers Weekly Children’s Bookshelf

If you’re looking for the buzziest kid lit books, check out Children’s Bookshelf, the free weekly newsletter from Publishers Weekly . This publication is known for its up-to-the-minute chatter about the publishing industry, including children’s books, which are reviewed in roundups, as well as all kinds of bookish content. Subscribing to Children’s Bookshelf is one of the best ways to stay current with kid lit.

School Library Journal

Leave it to the librarians to guide you on what children’s books to read. The long-running School Library Journal has tons of reviews of every kind of kid lit book imaginable. With a special focus on advising libraries whether or not to purchase a book, School Library Journal dishes out bite-sized takeaways (known as a “VERDICT”) at the end of each review. School Library Journal also has tons of non-review content, getting you caught up with the latest news in the world of children’s literature.

Part 2: Special Focus Children’s Book Reviews Websites

In this section, I’ll highlight the places to go for more specialized kid lit coverage.

American Indians in Children’s Literature

This phenomenal site concentrates on promoting the best children’s literature by Indigenous authors and illustrators. Search the site for specific topics or skip right to the “Best Books” for the books most worth celebrating.

The Brown Bookshelf

The Brown Bookshelf is dedicated to featuring book reviews of kid lit by Black authors and illustrators. Start by searching the site or filtering for book reviews . The Brown Bookshelf also compiles great resources for finding more children’s books by Black voices. You’ll find the most up-to-date coverage on the blog .

Disability in Kid Lit

Although no longer updated, the book reviews on Disability in Kid Lit are worth consulting if you’re looking for children’s book reviews about disabled protagonists. You can use the well-indexed search function and browse by different disabilities depending on what condition or identity you’re looking for. Also of note, the “Honor Roll” puts the spotlight on the best representation of disability in kid lit.

Hijabi Librarians

The reviewers and writers at Hijabi Librarians set their lens on children’s and YA books with Muslim representation. Along with author interviews and book discussion guides , Hijabi Librarians includes book reviews and resources for Muslim voices in children’s literature.

Latinx in Kid Lit

Looking for coverage of Latinx authors and illustrators in children’s literature? Definitely be sure to check out Latinx in Kid Lit. This resource compiles reviewed books that feature Latinx representation. You can search by age range — for example, middle grade books — and find that each review includes “Teacher Tips” for educators. The Latinx in Kid Lit blog also has tons of great content, including interviews, Latinx book deals, and publishing industry news specific to Latinx creators.

Social Justice Books

Social Justice Books is focused on…you guessed it, social justice in children’s literature! This site has loads of great guidance on the best social justice topics in kid lit, like the carefully curated booklists by theme . Check out the book review database , which aggregates reviews and is organized by themes like “Activism,” “Asian American,” and “Bullying.” Each book is given a star rating, making for an easy browsing experience if you’re just looking for the best reads.

Special Focus: Can’t-Miss-It Resources for Diversity in Children’s Literature

Cynthia leitich smith’s cynsations.

Bestselling and award-winning author Cynthia Leitich Smith maintains a website all about children’s and young adult books. On Cynsations you’ll find a broad array of content, including diverse author/illustrator interviews and news roundups.

Social Justice Books’ Sources for Book Reviews and Recommendations

Already highlighted above, Social Justice Books is a terrific resource for finding diverse children’s book reviews with a social justice focus. But I also wanted to shine a light on their list of sources for diverse kid lit book reviews if you’re looking for even more sources of diverse children’s literature.

We Need Diverse Books Resources

We Need Diverse Books is a non-profit alliance to further diversity in children’s and YA literature. Although We Need Diverse Books does not publish book reviews, they do have an outstanding roundup of resources for diversity in kid lit that should be a stop on everyone’s journey to find more diverse children’s literature.

Part 3: Children’s Book Review Social Media Accounts to Check Out

Instagram is a great resource for finding children’s book reviews. A diverse range of educators, Bookstagrammers, librarians, and more all highlight great children’s books. Here are some of Book Riot’s favorite children’s book review influencers to follow on Instagram.

@babylibrarians — Margaret and Jen

Run by Book Riot writers Margaret Kingsbury and Jen Sherman , Baby Librarians will get you up to speed on the best and latest in children’s literature.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Baby Librarians (@babylibrarians)

@hereweread — Charnaie Gordon

Charnaie Gordon is a huge book influencer focusing on diversity in children’s literature. You won’t want to miss the books she loves.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Charnaie Gordon | Diversity (@hereweeread)

@leeandlowbooks — Lee and Low Books

The POC-owned Lee and Low Books is a children’s book publisher dedicated to diversity. They feature the best of the best books on their Instagram.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lee and Low Books (@leeandlow)

@lgbtqkidlit — Laurie and Julie

This account is managed by two moms and showcases children’s book reviews with queer themes.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Laurie(s/h) Julie(s/h)disabled (@lgbtqkidlit)

@littlefeministbookclub — Little Feminist Book Club

As its name implies, Little Feminist Book Club is dedicated to sharing the best children’s books with feminist themes.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Little Feminist Book Club (@littlefeministbookclub)

@noodlenutskidsbooks — Jenn S.

Jenn S. writes book reviews of new picture books focused on diversity.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Jenn S. (@noodlenutskidsbooks)

@readwithriver — Alessandra Requena

This Bookstagrammer promotes the best children’s books.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alessandra Requena (@readwithriver)

@shelvesofcolor — Saranya & Ishaan

Saranya and Ishaan review diverse children’s books on Bookstagram.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Saranya & Ishaan (@shelvesofcolor)

@thebookwrangler — Mike

The Mike behind this popular bookstagram account is a K–5 librarian who shares his favorite recent reads.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mike (@thebookwrangler)

@thetututeacher — Vera Ahiyya

Educator Vera Ahiyya shares diverse book reviews on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Vera Ahiyya (@thetututeacher)

Still hunting for more great children’s books? Check out our Children’s Books archive , as well as these helpful posts:

• 50 Children’s Books About Diversity That Celebrate Our Differences
• The Best Children’s Books By Age: A Guide To Great Reading
• 13 Places To Find Free Children’s Books Online

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Word of Mouth

Submitting a book for review, write the editor, you are here:, the children’s book.

A. S. Byatt’s new novel, THE CHILDREN’S BOOK, will inevitably draw comparisons with her Booker Prize-winning POSSESSION: A Romance, considered by many to be her finest (or, at least, her most commercially successful) work. Although some of the comparisons are justified --- both rely on mythic and fairy tale elements to underscore plot and theme --- THE CHILDREN’S BOOK is far less an exploration of individuals and of individual relationships than it is of a whole time and place as viewed through the lens of one particular family and their host of acquaintances.

The time and place is England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, bridging the transition between the Victorian and Edwardian ages. The family is the large Wellwood clan, headed by the writer Olive Wellwood and her husband Humphrey. Humphrey has made a successful career as a banker, but is derailed by his desire to revile his employer in pseudonymous articles written for socialist publications. As Humphrey reinvents himself as a successful writer and social critic, Olive comes under increasing financial pressure to support the family by writing immensely popular fantasy fiction for young people, inspired not only by the fairy tales of Grimm and others but also by their idyllic country house, Todefright, and by her own brood of children.

Just as Olive constructs imaginary worlds on paper, she also constructs a “reality” of her family’s life: “The woods, the Downs, the lawn, the hearth, the stables were a real reality, kept in being by continuous inventive willpower. In weak moments she thought of her garden as the fairytale palace the prince or princess must not leave on pain of bleak disaster. They were inside a firewall, outside which grim goblins mopped and mowed. She had made, had written, this world with the inventive power with which she told her stories.” As the novel progresses, readers discover just how tenuous this family’s reality is and the kinds of secrets that are masked by the image projected to the outside world.

That image is largely one of art, a self-consciously Bohemian identity that is introduced masterfully in one of the novel’s opening chapters, a brilliant account of the family’s annual midsummer party at which the family and their assembled guests (nearly all of whom will go on to play their own roles in the drama that unfolds) play parts in a Shakespearean play. The heady mix of childhood fantasy, art-making and thinly veiled sexual desire sets the stage for everything that is to follow, which includes long-buried family secrets, life-changing encounters, and an abundance of children trying to find their way either within or deliberately outside of their parents’ idealistic, assertively creative lifestyle.

This generation of children, Byatt argues compellingly through literary and historical example, had a particularly difficult time with this process, given as their elders were to maintaining permanently childlike sensibilities, engaging in youthful fantasies, conducting frivolous entertainments, and writing literature ostensibly aimed at children but also read by adults. It’s no wonder that a character such as Olive’s oldest son, Tom, is tragically altered forever by his one attempt to follow convention by heading to boarding school, an experience that causes him to retreat from society permanently: “He had sensed that the Garden of England was a garden through a looking-glass, and had resolutely stepped through the glass and refused to return. He didn’t want to be a grown-up.” Of course, as Byatt reminds us, in the shattering closing chapters of the novel, the Great War was looming on the horizon, forcing members of all the generations that lived through it to grow up despite themselves.

There’s no doubt that Byatt’s latest, like many of her most accomplished novels, poses intellectual challenges for the reader. She often draws back from her own plots to place them in historical and literary context, not only littering the narrative with encounters with real-life figures (including the anarchist Emma Goldman, the playwright Oscar Wilde and the sculptor Auguste Rodin) but also pausing to reflect on the place of all this in the larger philosophical and aesthetic debates of England and the Continent during this time period. It’s tempting to think of THE CHILDREN’S BOOK, then, as primarily a “novel of ideas,” an exploration of those debates in fictional guise. But that’s not it at all.

Byatt’s genius lies in combining these big ideas with a story that, although far-reaching and in many ways unconventional, is nevertheless a ripping good tale of a family’s journey from innocence (or something like it) to experience. Her painstaking utilization of detail, her exploration of key characters’ inner lives and aspirations, her trademark use of stories within stories to underscore character, plot and theme --- all these things ground THE CHILDREN’S BOOK in storytelling as firmly as it is rooted in literary and historical theory and make the novel one that will deeply engage readers both emotionally and intellectually.

Reviewed by Norah Piehl on December 26, 2010

The Children’s Book by A. S. Byatt

• Publication Date: August 10, 2010
• Genres: Fiction , Historical Fiction
• Paperback: 896 pages
• Publisher: Vintage
• ISBN-10: 0307473066
• ISBN-13: 9780307473066

Growing Readers’ Hearts: An Interview with Dan Gemeinhart on Coyote Lost and Found

Facing fears together with alysson foti bourque and ‘alycat and the sunday scaries’, andrea wang weaves threads of belonging: exploring identity in ‘summer at squee’, poetry insights from jane yolen on crafting words, wisdom, and wonder, exploring love and light in ‘ferris’ with kate dicamillo, the growing readers podcast.

The Children’s Book Review is a resource devoted to children’s literature and literacy. On the Growing Readers Podcast, we produce author and illustrator interviews focused on the best books for kids of all ages to help you grow readers.

“Not every book is for every child, but for every child there is a book.”

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Ask a question about writing books, illustrating books, process, or inspirations. Ask about reading, favorite books, or a previous episode. Or just leave a compliment! Your message could end up on a future episode of this podcast.

In this insightful interview, acclaimed middle-grade author Dan Gemeinhart discusses his highly anticipated standalone companion novel Coyote Lost and Found.

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In this episode, we welcome the legendary author, poet, and children’s book writer Jane Yolen. Hear insights into her creative process!

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88 episodes

"Not every book is for every child, but for every child there is a book." The Children’s Book Review, is a resource devoted to children’s literature and literacy. In the Growing Readers Podcast, we produce author and illustrator interviews focused on the best books for kids of all ages. We help parents, grandparents, caregivers, teachers, and librarians to grow readers. Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/support

The Children's Book Review: Growing Readers Podcast The Children's Book Review

• 5.0 • 13 Ratings
• APR 9, 2024

Growing Readers' Hearts: An Interview with Dan Gemeinhart on Coyote Lost and Found

In this insightful interview, acclaimed middle-grade author Dan Gemeinhart discusses his highly anticipated standalone companion novel Coyote Lost and Found, the follow-up to his beloved bestseller The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise. Gemeinhart reflects on the evolution of the complex relationship between his resilient protagonist Coyote and her grief-stricken father Rodeo while also exploring the poignant themes of loss, healing, and finding one's place in the world that are woven throughout both narratives. The #1 New York Times-bestselling author also offers a glimpse into his creative process, from drawing inspiration from his lifelong love of reading to the challenges of seamlessly incorporating timely elements like the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Gemeinhart discusses his upcoming picture book Once Upon a Friend and the distinct approaches required for crafting middle-grade novels versus picture books. With his signature blend of heart, humor, and authenticity, Gemeinhart provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at his acclaimed body of work and the powerful messages he aims to impart to young readers. This episode is a must-listen for fans of Gemeinhart's beloved stories as well as anyone interested in the craft of writing impactful children's literature. Transcription: ⁠You can read the ⁠transcription on ⁠The Children's Book Review (coming soon)⁠⁠. Order a Copy: Coyote Lost and Found on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠. Once Upon a Friend on Amazon and Bookshop.org. Resources: Find Dan Gemeinhart online at http://dangemeinhart.com. Dan Gemeinhart Talks About: His writing process and influences as an author of middle grade novels The evolution of the relationship between the main character Coyote and her father Rodeo across the two books The themes of grief, healing, and finding one's place in the world that are central to the narratives Dan's upcoming picture book Once Upon a Friend and the differences between writing middle grade novels versus picture books The potential for the first Coyote book to be adapted into a film --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/support

• MAR 27, 2024

Facing Fears Together with Alysson Foti Bourque and Alycat and the Sunday Scaries

In this episode, we welcome special guest Alysson Foti Borque, author of the beloved Alycat series. Alysson shares insights into the creation of her heartwarming children's books and the inspiration behind her characters. Join Bianca and Alysson as they delve into the latest addition to the series, Alycat and the Sunday Scaries, exploring themes of friendship, bravery, and overcoming fears. Discover how Alysson infuses valuable life lessons into her stories while captivating young readers with engaging adventures. Get ready for an insightful conversation about the power of children's literature to inspire and uplift. Transcription: ⁠You can read the ⁠transcription on ⁠The Children's Book Review⁠⁠. Order a Copy: Alycat and the Sunday Scaries on ⁠Amazon⁠ and ⁠Bookshop.org⁠. Resources: Find Alysson and Alycat online at www.alycatseries.com. Check out the virtual book tour for Alycat and the Sunday Scaries here: https://www.thechildrensbookreview.com/alycat-and-the-sunday-scaries-awareness-tour/ Alysson Foti Borque Talks About: The inspiration behind starting Expound Publicity with her co-founder during the pandemic. Their journey from starting with a podcast interviewing authors to expanding into a full-fledged publicity firm assisting nearly 500 authors. Alysson's transition from teaching elementary education to practicing law to becoming a children's author and publicist. How personal experiences and her children inspire her children's books, particularly the Alycat series. The importance of showcasing supportive friendships and problem-solving skills in children's literature. Alycat's adventures in each book and the life lessons they impart to young readers. Incorporating extension activities at the end of each book to further engage readers and extend the story's themes. Discussion on the latest book in the series, Alycat and the Sunday Scaries, and its focus on overcoming fears and anxieties. Sneak peeks into upcoming books in the Alycat series, including Alycat and the Copycat and a Christmas-themed book. Encouragement for readers to find resonance with characters in books and utilize them as tools for learning and growth. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/support

• MAR 19, 2024

Weaving Threads of Belonging: Exploring Identity in Summer at Squee with Andrea Wang

In this engaging conversation, Andrea Wang shares insights into her latest book, Summer at Squee, where she explores themes of community, identity, and inclusivity. Delve into the heart of Squee Camp, a vibrant setting where Phoenny Fang navigates friendships, cultural experiences, and her own biases. Discover the inspirations behind Andrea's storytelling, from her personal experiences at a Chinese heritage camp to her reflections on anti-Asian racism. Learn how Andrea crafted authentic representation while making the story relatable to a diverse audience. Uncover the threads of empathy and belonging woven throughout her narrative and explore the transformative power of embracing joy and shared experiences. As Andrea reflects on her writing process and highlights from the book, listeners will gain a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry of identity and community depicted in Summer at Squee. Transcription: ⁠You can read the ⁠transcription on ⁠The Children's Book Review⁠⁠. Order a Copy: Summer at Squee on Amazon and Bookshop.org. Discussion Topics: Andrea Wang Talks About: Exploring the Concept of Community: How Summer at Squee portrays the dynamics of community within the camp setting. Cultural Identity and Representation: How the book tackles themes of cultural identity, particularly focusing on Phoenny Fang's journey of self-discovery as she navigates her Chinese heritage within a multicultural environment. Addressing Bias and Prejudice: How the narrative addresses issues of bias and prejudice, particularly in Phoenny's interactions with other campers. Writing Process and Inspirations: Her creative process behind crafting Summer at Squee, inspirations for the story, including her own experiences at a Chinese heritage camp, and how she approached the development of characters and plot elements. Themes of Inclusivity and Belonging: The importance of creating inclusive spaces, both within literature and in real-life communities, and ways to foster a sense of belonging for all individuals. Resources: You can visit Andrea Wang online at ⁠⁠https://andreaywang.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/andreawhywang/. Our Book Spotlight Sponsor: P.J. Davis, author of Nemesis and the Vault of Lost Time Available on Amazon For more information, visit https://www.PJDavisAuthor.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/support

• MAR 12, 2024

Poetry Insights from Jane Yolen on Crafting Words, Wisdom, and Wonder

In this episode of The Growing Readers Podcast, host Bianca Schulze welcomes the legendary author, poet, and children's book writer Jane Yolen. From discussing Yolen's daily routine of writing poetry to exploring her deep connection to literature and storytelling, this conversation is a journey into the heart and soul of a prolific writer. Yolen shares insights into her creative process, the inspiration behind her works, and the power of poetry in shaping young minds. Join Bianca and Jane as they delve into the magic of words, wisdom, and wonder in this captivating episode. Transcription: ⁠You can read the ⁠transcription on ⁠The Children's Book Review⁠⁠. Order a Copy: In and Out the Window on ⁠⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠⁠. Discussion Topics: Jane Yolen Talks About: Her daily routine of writing a poem a day for 18 years The significance of writing poetry as a creative practice to awaken the mind and fingers Childhood experiences and early exposure to literature and writing The impact of parental support and encouragement on Yolen's writing journey Her prolific career with over 457 published books and counting Reflections on family dynamics and attitudes toward Yolen's writing success Exploring the challenges and joys of writing for both children and adults The motivation behind Yolen's passion for crafting books tailored for children Insights into what makes a poem resonate and endure over time Memorable experiences with poetry, including reciting Lewis Carroll's "Jabberwocky" Her unexpected encounter with W.B. Yeats' gravestone in Ireland The process of compiling and organizing Yolen's poetry collection, In and Out the Window Educational and creative value of poetry in children's literacy and classrooms Her hopes for the lasting impact of In and Out the Window on readers of all ages Practical advice and tips for aspiring poets and poetry enthusiasts Her one big takeaway: the importance of reading poetry aloud every day Resources: You can visit Jane Yolen online at ⁠https://www.janeyolen.com/ or follow her on Facebook at Facebook.com/JaneYolen. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/support

• MAR 5, 2024

Exploring Love and Light in 'Ferris' with Kate DiCamillo

Join us for a captivating exploration of Kate DiCamillo's latest literary masterpiece, Ferris. Prepare to be swept away by a heartwarming love story between a granddaughter and her grandmother, where love in all its forms intertwines with the search for light in the darkest of times. Discover how music serves as a beacon of hope in this evocative tale, where characters come to life on the page. Kate shares her writing process, prioritizing emotional resonance over mere calculation. Don't miss out on this magical conversation as we delve into the soul-stirring themes of Ferris and uncover the transformative power of storytelling with the incomparable Kate DiCamillo. Transcription: ⁠You can read the ⁠transcription on ⁠The Children's Book Review⁠⁠. Order a Copy: Ferris on ⁠⁠Amazon⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Bookshop.org⁠⁠. Discussion Topics: Kate DiCamillo Talks About: The significance of the dedication to Tracy Bailey and Rainey Stewart: Exploring the personal inspirations behind Ferris. Character development: Understanding how characters like Ferris reveal themselves to Kate DiCamillo during the writing process. Themes of love: Analyzing the various forms of love depicted in the story and their impact on the characters. Finding light in darkness: Discussing how the theme of light, particularly through music and a chandelier, serves as a metaphorical beacon of hope. Emotional vs. mathematical writing: Delving into Kate DiCamillo's approach to finding the right words emotionally rather than through mathematical precision. Resources: For more information, visit https://www.katedicamillo.com/. Truth Is the Arrow, Mercy Is the Bow: A DIY Manual for the Construction of Stories by Steve Almond --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/support

• FEB 28, 2024

Breaking Through Writer's Block: A Journey with Barbara Dee into 'Unstuck'

In this episode, sit down with critically acclaimed author Barbara Dee to delve into her latest middle-grade novel, Unstuck. Listeners are treated to a sneak peek into this novel that follows protagonist Lyla as she grapples with anxiety, writer's block, and the pressures of meeting a writing contest deadline while trying to rescue her older sister, Dahlia, both on and off the page. Barbara Dee's insightful discussion offers aspiring writers and readers alike a glimpse into the creative process and the power of storytelling to tackle real-life issues with empathy and heart. Tune in to this enlightening episode for a behind-the-scenes look at "Unstuck" and Barbara's journey as a middle-grade author. Transcription: ⁠You can read the ⁠transcription on ⁠The Children's Book Review (coming soon)⁠⁠. Order a Copy: Unstuck on ⁠Amazon⁠ or ⁠Bookshop.org⁠. Discussion Topics: Barbara Dee Talks About: Her passion for writing books for middle schoolers and how she draws from her own emotional memories to create authentic stories that resonate with young readers. How the genesis of Unstuck was sparked by kids' questions about writer's block during school visits and in emails. The importance of addressing emotional struggles in her work. How themes of friendship, sisterhood, and breaking free from preconceptions are woven throughout the book. The importance of writing from the heart and authenticity in character dialogue—emphasizing the need for different levels of speech to sound authentic for each character. Being open to trying different solutions when facing creative struggles, whether it's writer's block or navigating the complexities of middle school friendships. For more information, visit https://barbaradeebooks.com/. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thechildrensbookreview/support

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Customer Reviews

Fantastic podcast.

Wonderful interviews with authors big and small. So many words of wisdom and inspiration inside these discussions. I highly recommend this podcast.

Amazing Conversations with wonderful authors

I have listened to a few episodes of this podcast and am absolutely hooked! It is so inspiring to learn about the author’s journey and the moment they discovered they were called to write their children’s book. This podcast is perfect for all book lovers- young and old ❤️❤️❤️.

Hopefully more of these illustrators as guests

Wonderful! I came across this podcast searching: David Litchfield the illustrator. Before this i could not find this podcast, so i hope it will become more findable in searches of illustrators and picturebooks, books for children. Let us not forget how important the art is of drawings and illustrations, to make a story whole and unforgettable… diving into the making of… we rediscover our creativity also as adults. Please keep up your good work and THANKS! From Holland xx Chanti @colorintact

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THE CHILDREN’S BOOK

by A.S. Byatt ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 6, 2009

Ambitious, accomplished and intelligent in the author’s vintage manner.

Byatt ( A Whistling Woman , 2002, etc.) encompasses the paradigm shift from Victorian to modern England in a sweeping tale of four families.

The deeper subject, however, is the complex, not always benign bond that attaches children to adults. As the novel opens in 1895, Olive Wellwood seems the model New Woman: popular author of books that reinvent fairy tales for contemporary children, tolerant wife to Fabian Society stalwart Humphry, devoted mother pregnant with her seventh baby. She takes in Philip Warren, a working-class boy who longs to make art, and connects him with Benedict Fludd, a master potter whose family belongs to the Wellwoods’ progressive, artistic circle. As the long, dense narrative unfolds, we see the dark side of these idealists’ lives. Three of the children Olive is raising are not hers with Humphry; in another household, magnificent works of art reveal repellent acts of incest. The gothic sexual interconnections recall Bloomsbury, and Olive is clearly a gloss on E. Nesbit, but this is no mere roman à clef. Byatt’s concern is the vast area where utopian visions collide with human nature. Her adult subjects, she writes, “saw, in a way that earlier generations had not, that children were people, with identities and desires and intelligences…But they saw this, so many of them, out of a desire of their own for perpetual childhood.” World War I forces everyone to grow up. Only one son of this socialist set becomes a conscientious objector; the others serve and most of them die. The pace, positively stately in the novel’s first half, speeds up and becomes unduly hasty in the final section. But Byatt has painted her large cast of characters so richly that we care about all of them even when their fates are summarized in a sentence. In the last chapter, the variously battered survivors reunite and dream once more: “They could make magical plays for a new generation of children.”

Pub Date: Oct. 6, 2009

ISBN: 978-0-307-27209-6

Page Count: 688

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2009

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IN THE NEWS

by Kristin Hannah ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 1, 2006

Wacky plot keeps the pages turning and enduring schmaltzy romantic sequences.

Sisters work together to solve a child-abandonment case.

Ellie and Julia Cates have never been close. Julia is shy and brainy; Ellie gets by on charm and looks. Their differences must be tossed aside when a traumatized young girl wanders in from the forest into their hometown in Washington. The sisters’ professional skills are put to the test. Julia is a world-renowned child psychologist who has lost her edge. She is reeling from a case that went publicly sour. Though she was cleared of all wrongdoing, Julia’s name was tarnished, forcing her to shutter her Beverly Hills practice. Ellie Barton is the local police chief in Rain Valley, who’s never faced a tougher case. This is her chance to prove she is more than just a fading homecoming queen, but a scarcity of clues and a reluctant victim make locating the girl’s parents nearly impossible. Ellie places an SOS call to her sister; she needs an expert to rehabilitate this wild-child who has been living outside of civilization for years. Confronted with her professional demons, Julia once again has the opportunity to display her talents and salvage her reputation. Hannah ( The Things We Do for Love, 2004, etc.) is at her best when writing from the girl’s perspective. The feral wolf-child keeps the reader interested long after the other, transparent characters have grown tiresome. Hannah’s torturously over-written romance passages are stale, but there are surprises in store as the sisters set about unearthing Alice’s past and creating a home for her.

Pub Date: March 1, 2006

ISBN: 0-345-46752-3

Page Count: 400

Publisher: Ballantine

Review Posted Online: June 24, 2010

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2005

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THE CATCHER IN THE RYE

by J.D. Salinger ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 15, 1951

A strict report, worthy of sympathy.

A violent surfacing of adolescence (which has little in common with Tarkington's earlier, broadly comic, Seventeen ) has a compulsive impact.

"Nobody big except me" is the dream world of Holden Caulfield and his first person story is down to the basic, drab English of the pre-collegiate. For Holden is now being bounced from fancy prep, and, after a vicious evening with hall- and roommates, heads for New York to try to keep his latest failure from his parents. He tries to have a wild evening (all he does is pay the check), is terrorized by the hotel elevator man and his on-call whore, has a date with a girl he likes—and hates, sees his 10 year old sister, Phoebe. He also visits a sympathetic English teacher after trying on a drunken session, and when he keeps his date with Phoebe, who turns up with her suitcase to join him on his flight, he heads home to a hospital siege. This is tender and true, and impossible, in its picture of the old hells of young boys, the lonesomeness and tentative attempts to be mature and secure, the awful block between youth and being grown-up, the fright and sickness that humans and their behavior cause the challenging, the dramatization of the big bang. It is a sorry little worm's view of the off-beat of adult pressure, of contemporary strictures and conformity, of sentiment….

Pub Date: June 15, 1951

ISBN: 0316769177

Page Count: -

Publisher: Little, Brown

Review Posted Online: Nov. 2, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 1951

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by J.D. Salinger

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The Children's Book

675 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

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Petitioners seek to repeal children’s book review board in Huntington Beach

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Huntington Beach has received significant pushback following a City Council majority’s decision to form a review committee for children’s books at the public library.

A new chapter has arrived, as some residents plan to circulate a petition to gain support for a ballot initiative that would repeal the ordinance that established the committee.

Organizers filed a notice of intention to circulate the petition on Wednesday at City Hall.

“We’re very concerned about what’s been happening with our local library,” said Cathey Ryder, co-founder of Protect Huntington Beach. “For that reason, today, I filed a notice of intention to circulate a petition, where we will repeal Ordinance 4318. … We believe that parents should be able to parent their own children.”

The ordinance creates a committee of up to 21 parents or guardians, who would make determinations regarding the children’s books purchased and placed on the shelves at the library.

Criticism of the ordinance included questions surrounding the qualifications of members who would serve on the review committee, the duration of their appointments and the inability to appeal decisions made by the committee, which would be considered final.

Each council member would have the ability to appoint up to three members of the review board.

Ryder said there are about 300 volunteers ready to circulate the petition once it has been prepared, and she feels confident the group will be able to achieve a target of approximately 30,000 signatures.

There have been additional steps taken to raise public awareness of the issue, Ryder said. Those efforts include Friday night rallies at the Main Street Branch Library, where the organizers have also handed out informational fliers, and a “read in” event at the Huntington Beach Central Library.

Barbara Richardson said the city has had conservative councils before the most recent four that comprise the majority were elected in 2022, but this is the first time she felt the library was not being supported. Formerly a children’s librarian at the Huntington Beach Central Library, Richardson said the City Council is “vilifying the librarians and the library staff.”

“What this committee does is taking away the librarians’ ability to order books,” Richardson said. “This committee has been told to judge the books by community standards, but what are these standards? Who gets to decide what these standards are? These committee members will be appointed by our City Council.

“We have four ultra-conservative, far-right council members, and three more liberal council members. It’s a majority-rule committee, so naturally, the conservative committee members are going to choose what books the children can read in the community — not the librarians, not individual parents.”

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Maren Morris’s Kids Book ‘Addie Ant’ Hits No. 1 on Amazon: Get Your Copy

Singer-songwriter Maren Morris teamed up with former schoolteacher for a children's book adventure.

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Addie ant goes on an adventure, trending on billboard.

You can follow Addie Ant as she learns that it’s okay to ask for help. Even though Addie wants to be independent, she discovers the power of friendship along the way.

This best-selling children’s book on Amazon is perfect way to embark on an adventure with your kids and spend quality time together. With its captivating storytelling and vibrant illustrations, this book sparks imagination and curiosity while highlighting valuable life lessons. 

Grab your copy today and embark on an adventure filled with laughter and heartwarming moments. 

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Picture This

George takei 'lost freedom' some 80 years ago – now he's written that story for kids.

Samantha Balaban

George Takei was just 4 years old when when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066:

"I hereby authorize and direct the Secretary of War, and the Military Commanders... to prescribe military areas in such places and of such extent as he or the appropriate Military Commander may determine, from which any or all persons may be excluded..."

It was Feb. 19, 1942. Japan had attacked Pearl Harbor two months earlier; For looking like the enemy, Japanese and Japanese American people in the U.S. were now considered "enemy combatants" and the executive order authorized the government to forcibly remove approximately 125,000 people from their homes and relocate them to prison camps around the country.

Book Reviews

George takei recalls time in an american internment camp in 'they called us enemy'.

Star Trek actor George Takei has written about this time in his life before — once in an autobiography, then in a graphic memoir, and now in his new children's book, My Lost Freedom.

It's about the years he and his mom, dad, brother and baby sister spent in a string of prison camps: swampy Camp Rohwer in Arkansas, desolate Tule Lake in northern California. But first, they were taken from their home, driven to the Santa Anita racetrack and forced to live in horse stalls while the camps were being built.

"The horse stalls were pungent," Takei remembers, "overwhelming with the stench of horse manure. The air was full of flies, buzzing. My mother, I remember, kept mumbling 'So humiliating. So humiliating.'"

He says, "Michelle's drawing really captured the degradation our family was reduced to."

Michelle is Michelle Lee, the illustrator — and researcher — for the book. Lee relied heavily on Takei's text and his excellent memory, but it was the research that both agree really brought the art to life.

"I'm telling it from the perspective of a senior citizen," Takei, 87, laughs. "I really had to wring my brains to try to remember some of the details."

So Takei took Lee to the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles, where he is a member of the board. They had lunch in Little Tokyo, got to know each other, met with the educational director, and looked at the exhibits. Then Lee started digging into the archives.

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From 'star trek' to lgbt spokesman, what it takes 'to be takei'.

"I looked for primary sources that showed what life was like because I feel like that humanizes it a lot more," Lee explains. She found some color photographs taken by Bill Manbo, who had smuggled his camera into the internment camp at Heart Mountain in Wyoming. "While I was painting the book, I tried as much to depict George and his family just going about their lives under these really difficult circumstances."

Takei says he was impressed with how Lee managed to capture his parents: his father, the reluctant leader and his mother, a fashion icon in her hats and furs. "This has been the first time that I've had to depict real people," Lee adds.

To get a feel for 1940s fashion, Lee says she looked at old Sears catalogues. "What are people wearing? All the men are wearing suits. What kind of colors were clothes back then."

But a lot of information has also been lost — Lee wasn't able to see, for example, where Takei and his family lived in Arkansas because the barracks at Camp Rohwer have been torn down — there's a museum there now. "I didn't actually come across too many photos of the interior of the barracks," says Lee. "The ones I did come across were very staged."

She did, however, find the original floor plans for the barracks at Jerome Camp, also in Arkansas. "I actually printed the floorplan out and then built up a little model just to see what the space was actually like," Lee says. "I think it just emphasized how small of a space this is that whole families were crammed into."

One illustration in the book shows the work that Takei's mother put in to make that barrack — no more than tar paper and boards stuck together — a home.

"She gathered rags and tore them up into strips and braided them into rugs so that we would be stepping on something warm," Takei remembers. She found army surplus fabrics and sewed curtains for the windows. She took plant branches that had fallen off the nearby trees and made decorative sculptures. She asked a friendly neighbor to build a table and chairs.

"You drew the home that my mother made out of that raw space, Takei tells Lee. "That was wonderful."

Michelle Lee painted the art for My Lost Freedom using watercolor, gouache and colored pencils. Most of the illustrations have a very warm palette, but ever-present are the barbed wire fences and the guard towers. "There's a lot of fencing and bars," Lee explains. "That was kind of the motif that I was using throughout the book... A lot of vertical and horizontal patterns to kind of emphasize just how overbearing it was."

Takei says one of his favorite drawings in the book is a scene of him and his brother, Henry, playing by a culvert.

Asian American And Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2022

George takei got reparations. he says they 'strengthen the integrity of america'.

"Camp Rohwer was a strange and magical place," Takei writes. "We'd never seen trees rising out of murky waters or such colorful butterflies. Our block was surrounded by a drainage ditch, home to tiny, wiggly black fishies. I scooped them up into a jar.

One morning they had funny bumps. Then they lost their tails and their legs popped out. They turned into frogs!"

"They're just two children among many children who were imprisoned at these camps," says Lee, "and to them, perhaps, aspects of being there were just fun." The illustration depicts both childlike wonder and — still, always — a sense of foreboding. Butterflies fly around a barbed wire fence. A bright sun shines on large, dark swamp trees. Kids play in the shadow of a guard tower.

"There's so much that you tell in that one picture," says Takei. "That's the art."

"So many of your memories are of how perceptive you are to things that are going on around you," adds Lee, "but also still approaching things from a child's perspective."

Even though the events in My Lost Freedom took place more than 80 years ago, illustrator Michelle Lee and author George Takei say the story is still very relevant today.

"These themes of displacement and uprooting of communities from one place to another — these are things that are constantly happening," says Lee. Because of war and because of political decisions ... those themes aren't uncommon. They're universal."

Takei agrees. "People need to know the lessons and learn that lesson and apply it to hard times today. And we hope that a lot of people get the book and read it to their children or read it to other children and act on it."

He's done his job, he says, now the readers have their job.

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Books | Best Sellers

About the best sellers - april 21, 2024.

This copy is for your personal, noncommercial use only.

A version of this Best Sellers report appears in the April 21, 2024 issue of The New York Times Book Review . Rankings on weekly lists reflect sales for the week ending April 6, 2024 .

Rankings reflect unit sales reported on a confidential basis by vendors offering a wide range of general interest titles published in the United States. Every week, thousands of diverse selling locations report their actual sales on hundreds of thousands of individual titles. The panel of reporting retailers is comprehensive and reflects sales in tens of thousands of stores of all sizes and demographics across the United States.

The book selling universe is comprised of well-established vendors as well as emerging ones. The sales venues for print books include national, regional and local chains representing tens of thousands of storefronts; many hundreds of independent book retailers; scores of online and multimedia entertainment retailers; supermarkets, university, gift and big-box department stores; and newsstands.

E-book rankings reflect sales from leading online vendors of e-books in a variety of popular e-reader formats and are included in our combined fiction, combined nonfiction, advice, children's series and monthly lists. Titles are included regardless of whether they are published in both print and electronic formats or just one format. In general, publisher credits for e-books are listed under the corporate publishing name instead of by publisher's division or imprint, unless by special request. Graphic book rankings include all print and digital formats. Adult, children's, young adult, fiction and nonfiction graphic books are eligible for inclusion on the graphic books and manga list. Audiobook rankings are created from sales of physical and digital audio products. Free-trial or low-cost audiobook sales are not eligible for inclusion. Publisher credits for audiobooks are listed under the audiobook publisher name.

The appearance of a ranked title reflects the fact that sales data from reporting vendors has been provided to The Times and has satisfied commonly accepted industry standards of universal identification (such as ISBN13 and EISBN13 codes). All identities, anecdotal, contextual, and other information about the retail sales of any title, as well as overall sales data, are provided with the expectation and assurance of confidentiality by every vendor and are protected by Non-Disclosure Agreements.

Sales are defined as completed transactions by vendors and individual end users during the period on or after the official publication date of a title. Institutional, special interest, group or bulk purchases, if and when they are included, are at the discretion of The New York Times Best-Seller List Desk editors based on standards for inclusion that encompass proprietary vetting and audit protocols, corroborative reporting and other statistical determinations. When included, such bulk purchases appear with a dagger (†).

Publishers and vendors of all ranked titles must conform in a timely fashion to The New York Times Best-Seller Lists requirement to allow for examination and independent corroboration of their reported sales for that week. Sales are statistically weighted to represent and accurately reflect all outlets proportionally nationwide. An asterisk (*) indicates that a book's sales are barely distinguishable from those of the book above.

Among the categories not actively tracked at this time are: perennial sellers, required classroom reading, textbooks, reference and test preparation guides, e-books available exclusively from a single vendor, journals, workbooks, calorie counters, shopping guides, periodicals and crossword puzzles.

The New York Times Best Sellers are compiled and archived by The Best-Seller Lists Desk of The New York Times News Department, and are separate from the Editorial, Culture, Advertising and Business sides of The New York Times Company.

If you are a book retailer interested in reporting your store's weekly sales to The New York Times Best-Seller Lists, send a request here .

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Anne lamott has written classics. this is not one of them..

Slim and precious, “Somehow: Thoughts on Love” doesn’t measure up to her best nonfiction.

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Roku’s ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ Lacks the Excitement and Adventure of the Novels: TV Review

By Aramide Tinubu

Aramide Tinubu

• ‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Review: Alicia Keys Musical Brings a Vibrant Depiction of Teen Girlhood to Broadway 12 hours ago
• Roku’s ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles’ Lacks the Excitement and Adventure of the Novels: TV Review 2 days ago
• Netflix’s ‘Baby Reindeer’ Is a Brilliant and Jarring Account of Stalking, Victimization and Emotional Turmoil: TV Review 3 days ago

There’s a lot of magic in “ The Spiderwick Chronicles .” Based on the acclaimed children’s fantasy books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black, and adapted for television by Aron Eli Coleite, the TV show is full of mystical creatures like ogres, fetches and dragons. However, this story is no fairytale. Instead, the series, which was axed by Disney+ before finding a home at Roku , is a tale about family and acceptance. Unfortunately, though the show is supposed to be adventurous, it lacks the whimsy needed to elevate the narrative for a new generation of young adults.

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Additionally, despite aging the characters up for this adaptation, the setting and special effects aren’t creepy or dazzling enough to keep a teen audience engaged. If the twins were nine years old, as they are in the first novel, instead of 15, the series would have been able to expand as they begin to encounter more teen-centered themes. Instead, the show races to encompass all of those issues while trying to balance the show’s paranormal elements.

Though “The Spiderwick Chronicles” doesn’t offer robust thrills and scares, its focus on Jared’s struggles and how they affect his sense of self and his family’s understanding of him is effective. Having spotted Thimbletack and gotten hold of the Seeing Stone, enabling him to see faeries and other creatures, Jared is desperate for someone to believe him. Since the audience sees and experiences what he does, his family’s dismissiveness of him is poignant. “The Spiderwick Chronicles” clearly illustrates the toll of being constantly compared to his intelligent and agreeable brother and how it has affected him over the years. Simon has consistently advocated for Jared, but the easy-going twin’s new friendship with Calliope (Alyvia Alyn Lind), Dr. Brauer’s daughter, causes a split between the brothers. Meanwhile, Mallory has tried to stand out amid Jared’s chaos by leaning into perfectionism and a love of fencing. Still, this desire for excellence has become increasingly unsustainable, especially in a new environment.

The Graces’ familial relations remain intriguing throughout the season, even amid mentions of Richard (Rhys Coiro), the kids’ absentee father. Still, the fantastical elements at the core of “The Spiderwick Chronicles” are unimaginative and lackluster. While some of the storylines are interesting, like the town’s residents’ ploy to shut down the Meskawki mental hospital, the adults’ frustrating lack of foresight and the bogged-down dialogue make much of the series a chore. Tighter pacing and more streamlined plot points would have given “The Spiderwick Chronicles” the allure and fanfare needed to make this action-adventure the dazzling escapade it should be.

The eight episodes of “The Spiderwick Chronicles” premiere on April 19 on Roku.

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THE 10 BEST Resorts near Museum of Labor Glory, Elektrostal

Resorts near museum of labor glory, property types, distance from, traveler rating, hotel class.

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Review: Biography details what ‘Rulebreaker’ Barbara Walters did to get to the top

On May 15, 1953, TV Guide ran a profile of Barbara Walters, young producer of a 15-minute children’s program called “Ask the Camera.”

By the time she died, almost 70 years later, Walters had bypassed or broken down lots of barriers. The first woman to co-host a network morning program, first female co-host of a network evening news program and creator of daytime talk show “The View,” Walters interviewed everyone who was anyone in politics and entertainment and was on a short list of individuals who have had the greatest impact on television news.

In “The Rulebreaker,” Susan Page (the Washington bureau chief of USA Today also wrote biographies of Barbara Bush and Nancy Pelosi) draws on archival research and more than 120 interviews. She creates an often-riveting account of a smart, demanding, competitive and thin-skinned broadcaster who once confessed that she was doing what she knew “how to do better than anything. Not life, not how to handle life. I don’t know how to do that.”

Page probes Walters’ complicated and conflicted relationships with and decades-long financial support of her father, Lou Walters, a nightclub impresario, who made and lost fortunes; Dena, her often disgruntled mother; Jackie, her special needs sister; and Jacqueline, her adopted daughter. Barbara’s three marriages failed, Page demonstrates, because her career always came first. And Page examines her friendships and romantic attachments with among many others, lawyer and fixer Roy Cohn, U.S. Sen. Edward Brooke, and economist Alan Greenspan.

Most important, Page documents the sexism Walters faced in network newsrooms. Frank McGee, her co-host on NBC’s “Today Show,” we learn, insisted on asking politicians the first three questions and lobbied producers to assign his colleague to “girlie” interviews.

Walters, however, did not call herself a feminist or join colleagues in lobbying for an end to systemic gender discrimination. The path she paved for the women who followed her, Page writes, was, “first and foremost, one that she was cutting for herself.” Her rivalry with Diane Sawyer was an especially nasty example of Walters’ view that getting on-air interviews with A-listers was a zero-sum game.

Page also implies that Walters’ approach to “the get” and the interview itself was gendered. Several public figures, including Fidel Castro, flirted with her.

In sharp contrast to the aggressive, confrontational, “gotcha” style made famous by Mike Wallace, she probed the emotions and motivations of her subjectsc. Audiences loved it, but one critic complained that Walters had turned interviewing into “weepily empathetic kudzu.”

That said, Page emphasizes that Walters inspired generations of girls and women. As a high school student in Virginia, Katie Couric watched her on television and said to herself, “Hey, if my face doesn’t stop a clock … why not?” The first female solo anchor on a network newscast in 2006, Couric thanked Walters for rattling cages “before women were even allowed into the zoo.” Walters, Connie Chung declared, “earned the right to be a diva.”

Walters died in 2022. Her cremated remains were buried next to her parents and sister in Lakeside Memorial Park in Miami.

Page implies her marker, which doesn’t mention familial relationships, is disingenuous.

“No regrets,” it reads. “I had a great life.”

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