Common Sense Media Review
By Polly Conway
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Cozy social book nook, but use privacy settings.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's It About?
Shelfari is a website for book lovers that allows users to create a virtual bookshelf, write reviews, and participate in discussion groups. In partnership with retail giant Amazon, Shelfari's mission is \"to enhance the experience of reading by connecting readers in meaningful conversations about the published word.\" Kids can read the entire first chapter of any book featured on Shelfari for free, using Kindle For the Web. It's also a little like Wikipedia in that any user can edit public content about book background, characters, and plot.
Is It Any Good?
Shelfari is a smaller, more intimate community than the sometimes-overwhelming Goodreads. The ads are subtle and unobtrusive, and while the design isn't that exciting, it's simple and easy to navigate around the site. Shelfari also has some neat little touches that set it apart from the rest; for example, while reading the reviews of The Three Musketeers, you can click the "Hide all spoilers" box to make sure there are no ruined endings in your future. The free first chapter is a huge bonus for kids who may be on the fence about buying a book.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about appropriate online behavior, respecting opinions, and keeping conflicts to a minimum. How can you disagree with someone in a respectful way? How should you respond if someone makes a mean comment about you online? Check out our Social Networking Tips for ideas.
Families can also talk about favorite books. Why is your favorite book your favorite? Is it the characters, plot, and setting that you like best? What rating would you give it?
Website Details
- Subjects : Language & Reading : discussion , forming arguments , reading , text analysis
- Skills : Self-Direction : achieving goals , goal-setting , work to achieve goals , Thinking & Reasoning : applying information , decision-making , making conclusions , thinking critically , Communication : conveying messages effectively , friendship building , Responsibility & Ethics : following codes of conduct , honoring the community , respect for others
- Genre : Social Networking
- Pricing structure : Free
- Last updated : November 11, 2020
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
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