18 Retro Reviews of Children's Books from the New York Public Library

Last year, New York Public Library staffers discovered a lost treasure:  Nearly 6400 old note cards containing 20th century librarians’ reviews of the children's books that filled the library’s stacks.

The review system was never intended for public consumption. Instead, it served as a tool for intra-office dialogue. "It was just a way for staff to say 'here's what I thought of this book,'” says Lynn Lobash, manager of Readers Services. “And then other staff could come and look at the book and see what their colleagues had thought and decide whether they want to use it in a story time, or for whatever it was.”

Archivists have since stashed the reviews away for safekeeping, but not before the library’s delightful Instagram feed shared some highlights. Here are our favorites.

1. Tales of the Unexpected, Roald Dahl

There are punctures in the card for every circular letter in the review of Tales of the Unwxpected [sic] by Roald Dahl. You could say the typewriter was also "sinister and mean." #reviewsontues #nypl

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Jan 21, 2014 at 10:27am PST

2. On the Way Home, Laura Ingalls Wilder

Yesterday was the anniversary of Laura Ingalls Wilder's death. Probably a good thing she didn't live long enough to see this #reviewsontues

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Feb 11, 2014 at 5:11am PST

3. The Outsiders, S. E. Hinton

We like that the Socs in S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders are defined as "mustangs and madras" by this librarian, who recommended this "phenomenon" of a book in 1967. Did you know that the tag line #staygoldponyboy comes from the Robert Frost poem Nothing Gold Can Stay? #reviewsontues

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Feb 11, 2014 at 9:07am PST

4. Forever, Judy Blume

Two completely different takes on Judy Blume's "DIRTY TEENAGE NOVEL" Forever. #reviewsontues #nypl

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Feb 25, 2014 at 4:52am PST

5. A Wrinkle in Time, Madeleine L'Engle

A Wrinkle in Time: "One may not wholly believe the beings they meet along the way, but the book holds your interest and the characters are quite charming." #reviewsontues

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Apr 22, 2014 at 4:42am PDT

6. Jurassic Park, Michael Crichton

"Safety precautions fail, the animals escape, and the main characters escape one trap after another." #reviewsontues #nypl

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on May 20, 2014 at 4:54am PDT

7. The Grox And the Eugene, David Perry

What's so confusing about boxes of Groxes?? #reviewsontues #nypl

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on May 28, 2014 at 5:11am PDT

8. Green Eggs and Ham, Dr. Seuss

Our #literarymarchmadness is a contest Seuss won, so we know our dear readers all think he is fun. But someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. The prolific doctor is a no-no they said. #reviewsontues #nypl

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Jun 10, 2014 at 12:41pm PDT

9. Fast Times At Ridgemont High, Cameron Crowe

Maybe instead of beating the high cost of college, like in our #reviewsontues from earlier today, just go back to high school undercover. No, we aren't talking about 21 Jump Street, but Fast Times at Ridgemont High. How many of you knew Cameron Crowe's movie source material was his own novel? "Be sure to read the chapter about the three girls and the banana."

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Jun 17, 2014 at 8:55am PDT

10. Let's Go Logging, George Herman

Let's Go Logging: not recommended. (1/2) || All of today's #reviewsontues will be #reviewsintwo, where each review was written on both the front and back of a card (necessitating two pictures for each review.)

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Jul 29, 2014 at 7:19am PDT

"This book contains none of the excitement of the work of loggers in the Oregon mountains. Not recommended." (2/2) || All of today's #reviewsontues will be #reviewsintwo, where each review was written on both the front and back of a card (necessitating two pictures for each review.)

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Jul 29, 2014 at 7:21am PDT

11. Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, Rudyard Kipling

Case in point: "This classic Kipling tale from his Jungle Book is a delight to the ear. This edition is, however, also an affront to the eye. Ugly illustrations, cheap paper, and a high price make this.... Not Recommended." #reviewsontues

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Aug 19, 2014 at 9:29am PDT

12. The Fifth Garfield Treasury, Jim Davis

Because, I mean, who can object to Garfield? #reviewsontues

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Oct 7, 2014 at 5:46am PDT

13. Find Waldo Now, Martin Handforth

Tell the truth... How many times could you not find Waldo? #reviewsontues

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Oct 7, 2014 at 10:45am PDT

14. The Snow Queen, Hans Christian Andersen. Two reviews of the book that became Frozen.

It's been a year since Frozen was released and the country is still gripped with snow queen madness! But how did the book fare with #nypl librarians? Review 1 of 2: "There is not much of the Andersen story left here since it is reduced to a few scraps of dialogue, but the pages have an open, uncrowned look about them that is inviting. A good example of an attractive inexpensive publication for children in England. However, pictures do not compensate for the mutilation of the story. Not recommended." #reviewsontues

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Dec 2, 2014 at 5:05am PST

It's been a year since Frozen was released and the country is still gripped with snow queen madness! But how did the book fare with #nypl librarians? Review 2 of 2: "I must be getting old. Despite the many changes, removal of all religious elements, & additions of moralistic touches, a lot of effort went into art & text and I think it should be seen. Author constantly hypes up story with wolves howling, crows shrieking, flower garden lady walks on water, ill. show skulls and fanged demons. He's like a Steven Spielberg of pic. books. The robbers are arrested the goes to live with garden witch. He's trying to make it acceptable to modern parents: Gerda leaves a note for Grandma, is cogniscent [sic] of bad strangers, Robber girl is more introspective. Finn & Lapp women look like chubby kewpie dolls. Public will probably adore the melodramatic paintings. Interesting version. Rec. as additional purchase." #reviewsontues

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Dec 2, 2014 at 9:03am PST

15. Hunches in Bunches, Dr. Seuss

"Confusing presentation of "hunch" as a concept meaning "choice". The only correlation between "choice" and "hunch" is the author's desire to rhyme it with "bunch". Narration, as a whole, is senseless rather than non-sensical. Illustrations are consistent with previous works: they are inventive and humorous." Not recommended. #reviewsontues

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Dec 9, 2014 at 8:41am PST

16. Reading Skills, Marilyn Berry

"If your [sic] can read and understand this text, you don't need it. Has no useful purpose." Reading Skills: Not recommended. #reviewsontues

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Jan 6, 2015 at 5:44am PST

17. Inspector Gadget in Africa, Sandra Beris

"In case you don't know Inspector Gadget is a silly T.V. cartoon series. Ins. Gadget solves mysteries through his own ineptness & all of the gadgets attached to his person, which get him out of the many scrapes he gets into. This is fine for T.V. but not for the library." Inspector Gadget in Africa: Not recommended. Unofficial poll: How many of you totally wanted to be Penny? #reviewsontues

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Jan 6, 2015 at 8:36am PST

18. Sam and Violet's Birthday Book, Nicole Rubel

"This picture book has no redeeming values. The pictures are ugly; the prose stilted; and the plot predictable. (It concerns twin cats who are given a surprise party.)" Sam and Violet's Birthday Book: Not recommended. #reviewsontues

A photo posted by The New York Public Library (@nypl) on Feb 3, 2015 at 9:43am PST