Be Safe but Scholastic!
The Purpose of The Twenty-Six Letter Imagination:
Because I realize that not all parents hold the same values for their children, I strive to be as honest as possible about a book's educational, ethical, spiritual, emotional, and linguistical value on The Twenty-Six Letter Imagination. If a book has possibly controversial material, I will mention those concerns in the body of my blogpost. Just because I mention a particular issue does not neccessarily mean that I agree or disagree with the opinions expressed; in this case, I am simply a reporter. You are the parent, and you must take responsibility for the material your child reads. If I overlook something that your family has concerns about, please forgive me. Overall, I do have the best possible reading experience in mind for you and your child.
Why I feel that it's important for parents to be involved and informed about their child's reading:
Growing up, my parents were extremely involved in my life. They home-educated me from kindergarten through 12th grade, and I appreciate the ways that they gave of their time to further me.
Most parents seek to be a part of their children's lives. I believe that being informed and involved in what your child is reading is key in building a strong relationship with them. Books can be a wonderful springboard for conversation. Characters in books do not get offended when you talk about their character flaws, and ethical issues are often easier to discuss when they are in context of a fictional story. Parents can cover otherwise-uncomfortable ground with the help of a good book.
This is why The Twenty-Six Letter Imagination exists--not only to help you find good books for enjoyment but for you to make the most of the opportunity to teach your children what it means to live as a good citizen, friend, family member, neighbor, schoolmate, or employee.
My Rating System:
Five Stars:
A five-star book is one that I don't want to put down while I'm reading it, a book that made me experience various emotions throughout its pages, a book that made me belly laugh, a book that is completely child-friendly.
Four Stars:
A four-star book is one that is very intriguing, a book that made me giggle, a book that might have a few elements that are questionable for young readers (Note: I will always address such issues that I feel might be a concern for parents in the blog post.)
Three Stars:
A three-star book is one that is interesting but could use a bit of editing or plot development, a book that might have made me chuckle a couple of times, a book that might have elements of concern for younger readers.
Two Stars:
A two-star book is one that is lacking in various areas, a book that is not worth buying but might be a possible flip-through at your local library to see for yourself, a book that I would not neccessarily recommend but I might be blogging about to alert parents to possible concerns.
One Star:
A one-star book is one that I do not endorse in any way but feel that I need to review because it was either asked of me by a publist or it is popular on the market because of previous books in a series but doesn't meet the standards of the first work.
