Review Criteria
Entries should be fiction or non-fiction books written primarily in English for children. We are seeking illustrated books appropriate for children approximately 9-11 years old, grades 3-5, not chapter books more suitable for older children.
Appropriate books include those that include a realistic treatment of what animals do (i.e. how they interact with the environment and other animals, including humans) not simply descriptions of what the animal is or where it is found.
Only those books published in the year prior to the award will be considered in a given award cycle. For example, for the 2004 award (submission deadline of February 2004) we only considered books published in 2003.
Books submitted for consideration will be reviewed according to (i) their treatment of animal behavior, (ii) their quality, and (iii) other appropriate criteria.
See below for specifics.
| Treatment of Animal
Behavior |
|
| General educational value about animal behavior,
either: |
Accuracy and realism, including but not limited to: |
| Non-fictional descriptions about
how animals behave and why |
Realistic depiction of animal
behavior |
| Realistic habitat contexts |
|
| Fictional depictions of animals that
highlight their behavior |
Realistic social structures |
| Quality |
| Likely to
appeal to and inspire age-appropriate children |
| Novelty, originality,
and creative
merit |
| Clear, logical, and appealing
organization |
| Illustrations and/or photographs
are accurate and aesthetically engaging |
| Lack of sexist or
racist stereotypes |
| Other
Possible Criteria, if appropriate for story/book |
| Incorporates human activity (conservation, applied topics) |
| Corrects misconceptions and fallacies about animal behavior and related disciplines |
| Includes humane treatment of animals or endangered species concerns |
| Includes the process of thinking scientifically |
| Includes appropriate
community/ecosystem
context |
| Includes related disciplines,
such as evolution, development, and ecology |
