The Horn Book Magazine: Odd Name, Superb Publication

The Horn Book Magazine is an informational resource for anyone concerned about or interested in children’s books. First published in 1924 by bookstore owner Bertha Mahoney Miller, the magazine’s purpose was to inform the public about good books available for children of all ages. Today, it bears the distinction of being the only periodical that reviews children's books exclusively.

Why that odd name? The earliest children’s books, dating back to the 16th century, were educational guides created on wooden paddles with verses pasted on them. These were called “hornbooks,” after the transparent pieces of horns that sealed the verses. Miller adopted the name to do homage to those early books.

The Horn Book Magazine only prints reviews of books that the editors consider high quality. You won’t see articles about books that should be avoided. So, basically, the editors of the magazine present what they consider to be the best examples of current children's literature. This doesn't mean they don't include criticism. In fact, the reviews are generally well-balanced and objective.


Regular features:

• Editorial
Editor Roger Sutton presents a commentary on a current issue in children’s writing and publishing. His topics are always timely and interesting, spanning a variety of important issues, such as the many faces of censorship of children’s books or the blurring of the lines between fiction and nonfiction.

• Articles
Various authors offer full-length articles on a variety of topics relating to current trends and issues. Some articles are biographical sketches about authors and their contributions to children’s writing. Samples: a recent article on the changing face of the young adult novel; a “crash course” on graphic novels.

• Reviews
Each issue contains full-length reviews of 3 or 4 recent books. The essays highlight the positive aspects of the books, but also point out areas in which the stories could have been stronger. They contain details about plot issues, characters, theme, setting, and writing style.

• Cadenza
A brief poem, drawing, or cartoon that comments on some aspect of writing for children. For example, in the current (May/June 2007) issue, the cadenza is titled “Ten Proems,” and offers 10 humorous pointers about poetry.

• Book Reviews
This section of the magazine differs from the “Reviews” section, in that it gives short reviews of 50 to 60 recent children’s books. This is the largest section of the magazine, comprising approximately 2/3 of the 80 or 90 pages. These are quick but helpful one-paragraph summaries of the contents, themes, author styles, illustrations, etc. I find this section to be a main highlight of the magazine. I enjoy reading the various creative plot ideas and themes in every genre imaginable. The reviews are organized into: picture books, general fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and audiobooks. Each book is rated by age group: preschool, primary, intermediate, middle grade, or young adult.

• “Starred” Books
This is a quick reference of starred items - the books that the editors believe are the best of the group.

• Fanfare
This feature is presented once at the end of each year. It is a list of the magazine’s picks for best children’s books of the year.


Pertinent and Limited Advertising

• Publisher ads – these are interspersed throughout the magazine, but they are not in such a quantity that they overpower the important content. They are generally full-page ads announcing newly published books.

• Educational ads – these are smaller ads geared toward writers who are interested in enrolling in writing programs, many of them degreed.

Other than an occasional insert for the magazine subscription, there is nothing else in the magazine that is not directly related to publishing or writing of children’s books. This is certainly refreshing.


Tone and Look of the Magazine

This is a focused, high quality magazine. The writing style is literary, but not stodgy or boring. Each entry in the review section gives sufficient detail for people to make decisions about book choices and appropriateness for children. These short reviews also allow people in the industry (writers, for example) keep abreast of what’s being published.

The cover of the magazine is often colorful. The pages contain illustrations (especially pictures of book covers) and occasional photos, but all are black and white. There is no color on the pages.


Final Recommendation

This is an excellent magazine for people who are interested in writing for children. As a matter of fact, I would consider this a critical source for those interested in getting published, as it offers current information on trends and themes. However, it’s also a valuable resource for any person considering purchasing children’s books, because the reviews also give parents summaries of what particular books are about.

The only drawback to this magazine is the price. A yearly subscription costs almost $60 for six issues, though an introductory $35 price is available. Individual issues cost $10.50 in the US and $13 in Canada.

If you have a serious interest in children’s books, and don’t mind the price-tag, this would make an excellent addition to your library.