ACLP Bulletin Book Reviews
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
ACLP members are strongly encouraged to contribute content for consideration for
publication in the ACLP Bulletin, and book reviews are and excellent way to write for
publication while increasing the exposure of ACLP members to written resources that may
enhance their child life practice.
A book review for ACLP Bulletin should be a critical analysis of a book and evaluation of
its usefulness for the child life community. Its main purpose is not to summarize the book,
but to provide information about what the reader might gain from the book, and what the
book contributes to the overall body of knowledge.
As you delve into the book, keep in mind:

A good book review begins with more than one thorough reading of the book, with a
different eye than you might use if you were reading for enjoyment or information. It
is important to have some background knowledge about the topic under discussion
so that the work under review can be put into context.

When reading a book for the purpose of review, look for (and take notes on) the
stated purpose of the book, the organization of the material presented, the writing
style of the author, and your impressions of how well the author conveys their
message.

Mark passages that may be useful to reference as you are making your critique of
the book. If you see areas that are illustrative of particular strengths, weaknesses,
or particular patterns that you would like to point out to your reader, make note of
them as you read.
Points to consider when writing the review:

It may be useful to provide some brief information about the author and his or her
background. Does the author have a certain point of view that colors the way the
book is written?

How is the book organized? Does this seem to you like a logical way to present the
information?

What is the author’s purpose in writing this book? Do you think his or her goals
were met with the finished product? Do you see any areas that were overlooked or
left insufficiently covered?

Remember that being critical does not necessarily mean being negative. You do
not need to search out faults in a book to balance an overwhelmingly positive
review. On the other hand, if you provide nothing but praise, your reader may not
think you read the book with a critical eye.

What resources has the author used? Evaluate the quality of these. Are they
adequate to support the arguments the author is making in the book?

Think about the author’s writing style. How did this contribute to or detract from the
book?

How does this book add to the body of knowledge about working with children in a
healthcare setting? Does it make a direct contribution to child life practice? Does it
make a significant contribution in an indirect way? How does it compare to similar
works?

Does the book have any other strengths or weaknesses?
Structuring your written review:
Your first paragraph should introduce the form and function of your paper and provide
information about the book. Try to describe the book, rather than summarizing it. Your
introductory paragraph will include your thesis statement, which should include a summary
of your judgment about the book and its relevance for the reader and for child life practice.
The body of your article should support your thesis by providing evidence of why this book
is or is not useful for the child life community. Generally, this part of the paper should be
three to five paragraphs long, with each paragraph dealing with a single aspect of your
argument about the book. Look back at the points to consider above, and discuss those
you found useful in evaluating the work (or other thoughts you have) along with supporting
statements to back up your evaluations. You may include a quote or two from the book if it
can be used to support a point you are making, but do so carefully so as not to detract
from the purpose of your review.
Close with a paragraph containing a summary or restatement of your evaluation of the
book and its application to the child life profession. Help your reader tie together all of the
evidence that you have presented in your review to come up with a conclusion about the
relevance of the book for them.
For a sample book review please read closely:
Hollon, E.C. (2012). A Terrific New Resource for Specialists and Students: A Review of
Hart, R. and Rollins, J. (2011). Therapeutic Activities for Children and Teens Coping with
Health Issues. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley & Sons. Child Life Bulletin, 30(2), 6-7.
Word Count: 800-900 words
Submitting your review:
It is always a good idea to communicate with the editorial team before you begin writing.
Contact the editors at [email protected] well ahead of the deadline for which you intend
to submit. Knowing what book reviews are underway helps us to plan cohesive issues of
the publication, as well as avoid duplication of effort that may occur if multiple reviewers
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write about the same book. The ACLP Bulletin editors are always happy to provide
support and answer questions at any point in the writing process, from your first thoughts
about the project to submission.
Your completed article should be emailed to [email protected]. At the time of
submission, please also fax or email the ACLP Bulletin submission letter and copyright
agreement, available at http://www.childlife.org/files/BulletinSubmissionLetter.pdf.
Submission deadlines for consideration of each issue are as follows:
Winter:
Spring:
Summer:
Fall:
Due October 1, published in January
Due January 1, published in April
Due April 1, published in July
Due July1, published in October
Please note: Submissions are reviewed on a rolling basis as they are received. Due to
space limitations, the ACLP Bulletin editorial panel does not guarantee placement of an
accepted article in a particular issue, and may at its discretion hold an article for
publication in a future issue.
Checklist of things to include/consider for your article:
 Before you start writing, review the online ACLP Bulletin Writing Tips and Word
Usage: http://www.childlife.org/files/BulletinFocusWritingTips.pdf
 Reference the book in the title, for example:
An Innovative Resource for Child Life Specialists: A Review of Lowenstein, L.
(2006). Creative Interventions for Bereaved Children. Toronto: Champion.
 Byline: Include your name and organizational affiliation at the top of the first page
 Article length is 800 to 900 words
 Article follows APA formatting and referencing
 Double space, 12 point font
 Indent new paragraphs
 Do NOT double space an extra time between paragraphs
 Cite references that you include beyond the book under review in a reference list
(check APA manual for specifics)
For more complete submission information, please visit:
http://www.childlife.org/files/WritingfortheBulletin-Overview.pdf