This study examines the beginnings of regularly published reviews of children's books in columns and journals from the period of 1918 to 1929. The influence of the historical context on this development is considered. The first year or volume of children's book reviews in The Bookman (1918), New York Herald-Tribune Books (1924), The Horn Book (1924), Saturday Review of Literature (1927), and Library Journal (1929) are analyzed with regards to audience addressed, the reviewer's intention, format used, and inclusion of bibliographic and other commentary or material. In addition, individual reviews of the 1922 to 1930 Newbery Award winners are analyzed as to the descriptive, critical, and sociological elements they contained, length, and reviewer's attitude towards the book. Booklist is briefly considered in addition to the previous journals in this section. The early reviews are characterized by an interest in promotion of reading and owning quality children's books to a general audience of parents. These characteristics still influence the reviews being published today for library professionals
