CHOICE OF SUBJECT

• Does the subject's life offer interest and meaning for today's child?
• Will knowing this historical or contemporary figure help children understand the past or the present?
• Can the subject's experiences widen children's views on the possibilities for their own lives?

• Do the text and illustrations reflect careful research and consistency in presentation?
• Does the author provide notes about original source material, a bibliography, or other evidence of documentation?
• Are there discrepancies of fact in comparison with other books?
• Are there significant omissions that result in a distorted picture of the subject's life?

• Are quotations or dialogue used in a way that brings the subject to life?
• For a fictionalized biography, does the choice of narrator's point of view add to the story?
• Is the author's style clear and readable, with background material included naturally?

• Is the subject presented as a believable, multidimensional character, with both strengths and weaknesses?
• Does the author avoid both eulogizing and debunking?

• Does the author's interpretation of the subject represent a fair and balanced approach?
• Does the author avoid oversimplifying or manipulating the facts to fit the chosen theme?