Noah’s Quest® Review Policy

Hey there, fellow adventurer! I’m Noah, and at Noah’s Quest®, I get to review awesome books that are perfect for kids like you and me, especially those up to 12 years old. My mission is to make sure these stories are fun, exciting, and packed with all the good stuff that keeps our imaginations running wild! Let me walk you through how I review the books that make it into our treasure chest of favorites.

When reviewing and rating books for children up to 12 years old, it’s super important to think about a bunch of things that help kids enjoy reading and understand the stories better. Here are some of the best things I look for:

  1. Age-appropriate – Is This for My Age?
    • What’s Inside?: I make sure the themes, language, and content are suitable for the child’s age group. For example, picture books for younger children (ages 3-5) will focus on simple stories, while chapter books for ages 7-12 might explore more complex themes like friendship, adventure, and moral challenges.
    • Is It Easy to Read?: Is the vocabulary and sentence structure appropriate for the intended age range? Books should be neither too simple nor too challenging, matching the developmental stage of the child.
  2. Engaging – Is It Fun and Interesting?
    • What Happens in the Story?: I check if the story captures children’s imagination and keeps them engaged. Books should be exciting, with relatable characters or captivating adventures. For younger children, the pacing should be faster to keep their interest.
    • Is It Funny or Silly?: Humor, wordplay, or imaginative elements are often super fun for kids, especially when they’re woven into the story in a way that makes sense.
  3. Educational – Does It Teach Me Something?
    • What Can I Learn?: I love it when books for kids include a lesson about kindness, perseverance, or empathy. This helps us develop values and go through the world around us.
    • Does It Share Cool Facts?: For non-fiction or educational books, the info should be presented in a fun way, often with interactive elements like questions or fun facts.
    • Does It Make Me Think?: Books that encourage problem-solving or making predictions can be super helpful for our brains.
  4. Relatable – Are the Characters Relatable?
    • Do I See Myself in the Story?: Kids should see themselves and others in the stories they read. Diverse characters in terms of gender, race, culture, family structure, and abilities make books more inclusive and help us understand different perspectives.
    • Are There Good Role Models?: I think it’s important that characters show positive behaviors or traits like bravery, kindness, and resilience that we can look up to.
  5. Emotional – Does It Make Me Feel?
    • Does It Make Me Feel Something?: I love books that stir up emotions—whether laughter, empathy, or suspense. For younger children, comforting or reassuring books are especially important.
    • Does It Talk About Real Feelings?: For older kids, deeper explorations of emotions and challenges are valuable. Books might deal with issues like friendships, family changes, or self-confidence in ways that resonate with our experiences.
  6. Visually-appealing – Are the Pictures Cool?
    • Are the Pictures Nice to Look At?: If there are pictures, I get excited to see how they look! Illustrations should be colorful and fun, matching the story’s mood. For older kids, pictures can add to the text and make the story even better.
    • Do the Pictures Help Tell the Story?: Illustrations should not only be pretty but also help clarify the story, providing extra details or visual humor that might not be in the text.
  7. Creative – Is It Inventive?
    • Is It a New Idea?: I love it when a book has fresh ideas or an original storyline! Creative, imaginative tales often stand out and spark a child’s sense of wonder.
    • Is the World in the Story Awesome?: Especially for fantasy or adventure stories, a cool, believable world is super important. This is especially great for middle-grade readers who enjoy diving into fictional places.
  8. Readable – Is It Easy to Read?
    • Can I Understand It?: The language should be simple but also colorful enough to paint pictures in a kid’s mind. Rhythmic text, alliteration, or repetition can be engaging, especially for younger readers.
    • Is the Way It’s Written Friendly?: The tone should be easy to understand. A friendly tone works well for middle-grade readers, while younger kids might enjoy rhythmic or lyrical text.
  9. Interactive – Can I Get Involved?
    • Can I Join In?: I love books that invite kids to participate—through questions, prompts to draw, or chances to guess what happens next. This makes reading even more fun!
    • Are There Fun Surprises?: For younger readers, interactive elements like flaps, textures, or sounds can be especially engaging.
  10. Re-readable – Can I Read It Again?
    • Will I Want to Read It Again?: A great children’s book is one that a kid can enjoy reading multiple times, finding something new or just loving the familiarity of a favorite story.
  11. Inclusive – Does It Respect Cultures and Diversity?
    • Does It Show Different Cultures Well?: Books should portray different cultures and traditions in a respectful, accurate, and thoughtful way, avoiding stereotypes and offering well-rounded, positive representations of diverse groups.
    • Does It Celebrate Diversity?: Books should actively highlight and embrace a variety of cultures, backgrounds, and perspectives, fostering inclusivity and encouraging readers to appreciate and learn from differences.
  12. Authorship – Who Wrote It?
    • Does the Author Know About Kids?: An author with a background in education or child development might have a better understanding of what kids like, making their books more likely to meet our needs.
    • Has the Author Worked with Kids?: Authors who are teachers or parents may know how kids think and learn, leading to stories that feel relatable.
    • Do People Like Their Books?: I pay attention to authors known for writing inclusive, diverse, and culturally respectful stories. It’s important that stories help us understand each other!
    • Does the Author Love Writing for Kids?: Many authors write children’s books because they want to inspire imagination or teach good values, which can really connect with young readers.
  13. Uniqueness – Bonus Points!
    • I give bonus points if the book helps the planet and all of us (like if it’s about nature, caring for animals, or making a difference in other ways) or if it brings lots of imagination to the table. Books that make me want to learn more or that teach kindness are total winners in my eyes!

So, that’s how I review books here at Noah’s Quest®! I want to make sure each book is fun, meaningful, and exciting for kids like us. Whether it’s about solving mysteries, battling dragons, or learning about the stars, I’m always on the lookout for stories that inspire our imaginations and help us go on our own quests!

If a book ticks all these boxes, it’ll make it onto the site and hopefully into your hands! Then you can start your own adventure—with the approval and guidance of a trusted adult, like a teacher, parent, or guardian.

Helpful Shortcuts