Children’s Book Committee

Young Reviewers Program

CBC LogoThe Young Reviewers Program welcomes children from toddlers through high school students who read and review books that are currently being considered by the Children’s Book Committee (CBC). Started more than 20 years ago, the program supports the CBC’s longstanding mission to evaluate books for children, parents, librarians, and educators by focusing on how books can affect young readers.

Purpose of Becoming a Young Reviewer

Reviews help the CBC to create our Best Children’s Books of the Year lists and Children’s Book Awards. Some Young Reviewers have been in the program for years and many have highlighted their experience on school and scholarship resumés.

For more information about our program, please email youngreviewers@bankstreet.edu or click the button below to fill out our registration form.

Registration Form Submit a Review Children’s Book Committee

The Children’s Book Committee

Members of the CBC have a wide range of experience in the world of education, writing, and book publishing, but the voices of children through the Young Reviewers Program provide the committee with valuable insights into the literature we read throughout each year. Reviews are shared with committee members at weekly meetings and, at the end of the year, the CBC will consider many criteria when compiling the Best Children’s Books of the Year List, including the thoughts of our Young Reviewers. Excerpts from some reviews are shared on social media and at our awards ceremony in the spring.

Children's Book Committee December Pick

Codebreaker
Author: Jay Martel

Following the mysterious deaths of her parents, Mia, 17, follows the clues left by her father. Aided by Logan, they try to outwit the conspirators on her trail.

Our Young Reviewer Says:

I really enjoyed Codebreaker because it made history and science feel exciting and easy to understand, especially through the story of the protagonist, whose intelligence and determination stood out in every chapter. The plot of Codebreaker kept me engaged because it combined suspense and mystery with the high-stakes reality of WWII, making the story both thrilling and believable. The setting added depth, giving a vivid sense of the time period, while the language was clear and compelling, making complex ideas like cryptography accessible without losing their intrigue. Read more…

–Riya, age 14, Belmont, MA

Past Monthly Picks