Everyone has their own rating for everything from restaurants to cars, hotels to movies; most are on a 1-5 scale, some scales run 1-10. I like to rate picture books and because Goodreads uses a five point scale, that’s what I use for my own rating as well.
I’m stingy with my five stars, especially when it comes to rating picture books. If you follow me on Goodreads, you’ll know that I often give out 4 stars for great books, 3 stars for fun to read more than once books, and 2 stars for books I probably wouldn’t read again. I never give only 1 star because I know someone has worked very hard on this book and even though it’s not my cup of tea, someone else may really like it a lot and I don’t want to negatively influence another reader’s possible joyful experience.
My 5 star rating means:
- I absolutely love this book.
- I would read it multiple times.
- I would use it in my classroom if I were still teaching.
- I would buy it for grandchildren.
- I would recommend it to strangers in the checkout line.
illustrated by Sophie Blackall
Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2015
And, if you’re following me on Goodreads, you’ll also know that I don’t review the books as much as give a quick summary of the story so you can judge for yourself if you want to read it or if it meets your needs. A 5 star book that doesn’t meet your needs is just as useless as a book you won’t read. If you need a book for a child about friendship a 5 star book about a famous bear won’t help you much. (Finding Winnie) But if the bear in the story works out a problem he is having with geese and they become friends, then you’re more likely to want that particular book. (Mother Bruce) In case you haven’t guessed, both of these books are excellent, I gave them both 5 stars, I own a copy of both, and I bought copies of both for my grandchildren.
Disney-Hyperion, 2015
So I’ve decided to do is to share the my love of 5 star books is to start this page on my website to feature books which I consider to be 5 star picture books. I don’t want to go back in time, so I’m going to start with the books I’m currently reading, with possibly a link to a book that I’ve read previously. I apologize to all the authors and illustrators of absolutely wonderful 5 star books which I don’t get to feature on this page. But I do hope this will be helpful to people who are choosing books for the little readers in their lives. Teachers, parents, grandparents this is for you!
Juliana Lee 