Critical Book Review
Book Review (25 marks):
You will locate a book that is geared toward children, parents, or professionals (e.g., teachers, counsellors, childcare workers) that is related to one of the course topics. Briefly summarize the theme of the book and evaluate its usefulness in relation to supporting children’s social and emotional development. You will critically analyze the book through the “lens” of one of the course topics.
EXAMPLE: you might choose a book that depicts a child’s journey through various emotions over the course of a school day (course topic = emotions) and analyze that book through the lens/perspective of the course topic “self-regulation”.
A) Your written analysis of the book will be 6-8 pages (not including title page and reference page), double-spaced. In the body of your paper use APA format to cite the sources you used to support your points AND include a reference section in APA format. Cite a minimum of 4 references (you can use a max of 1 reading from class if you deem that source directly relevant to your analysis).
B) After the title page, include a page with a screenshot of the book’s cover.
Detailed Book Review Sections (to be completed in proper APA format):
A) Title page
B) Screenshot of Book’s Cover C) Introduction Section
D) Book/Author Section
• book title, author’s name and expertise, target audience, summary of book (purpose and key points made by author)
E) Topic Lens
Scholarly lens that you are using to critically analyze the book
Provide sufficient relevant details of the lens chosen so reader understands the framework you are using to analyze the book (e.g., In this review I analyze the book titled “Charlie’s Friend” through Bowlby’s theory of attachment with a particular emphasis on secure attachment etc. etc)
F) Book Analysis (through your topic lens). In this section answer the following questions:
1) Would the book be helpful to the target audience (e.g., teachers, parents, school
administrators)? Why or why not? Justify your view.
2) Did the author consider important contextual factors or influences (such as cultural influences; social context; individual/personal experiences)?
3) Did the author demonstrate any potential bias? Explain.
4) Is there anything you would change about the book to improve it in light of the analytical perspective you have taken? Justify your response.
• Note that this is the section where you make use of scholarly sources to support the points you are making (hence the 4 scholarly references referred to above).
G) Reference List in APA format
One of the course topics you can use is Early Influences: Attachment; Parenting Styles
