For some children's books, the author should provide a list of materials, safety rules to follow and notification of the need for adult supervision. Authors and illustrators should also avoid stereotypes in these and other informational books. The qualifications of the author to write in the field should also be examined. Illustrators also bear responsibility for accuracy of material. Inclusion of a statement about the author and a bibliography of sources can help the reviewer in identifying competence.
Young people become increasingly sensitive to format as they grow older.
The intended audience should be clearly defined in designing elements of a book's format. Books designed with high content and reading levels presented in a format for younger children may receive great resistance from older readers. Illustrative matter should be clear, not jumbled and confusing to younger readers. A good nonfiction book should provide factual information in an interesting and informative way. One rule of thumb is to look at the title.