A discussion with reviewers from the Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books about the process of reviewing books for young people and the value of such reviews in the professional and academic field. 

Quinita Balderson earned her bachelor's degree in English and a MLIS with a specialization in Youth Services at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This faithful Illini currently holds a Library Specialist position at Interlibrary Loan and Document Delivery in the Main Library. Dedication to diversity and a fondness of dark humor, horror, and mystery in kids' lit make her a special addition to the Bulletin Staff. 

April Spisak is Head of Youth Services at the Albany Public Library in Oregon and had reviewed children's books for over fifteen years. She is obsessed with public libraries, and she considers reviewing to be a core privilege and responsibility for youth services librarians, whether on a local scale or for a professional journal. Given that her only skills are word related, it is quite fortunate indeed that her dream job uses so many of them in myriad ways. 

Amanda Toledo is a writer, reader, and library student getting her MLIS at San Jose State University. A first-generation daughter of Cuban immigrants, she grew up on a steady stream of books and croquetas. She lives, works, and dreams in Chicago, IL. 

Link to transcription.