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jaydee67 · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject: No to age banding

From this autumn, a number of publishing houses will "age band" their children's books.

Each book will carry a specific marking indicating they are suitable for readers aged 5+, 7+, 9+, 11+ and 13+/teen.

Research within the book industry suggests people buying books for children would welcome the guidance.

But it is a scheme which has already enraged a number of writers, among them former children's laureate Michael Morpurgo.

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Lucybelle · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:38 am Post subject:

The books shops normally put them in a particular age range in there shops anyway. Waterstones do that & I do find it useful. I don't think it needs to be stated on the book.

Could be embarassing if your child had reading difficulties.

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Lucybelle

jaydee67 · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 8:58 am Post subject:

That's what I think too. It could put poorer readers off if the book they have has a younger age on it.

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star-9 · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:26 am Post subject:

I agree, working with children who often have an reading age of FAR below their peers having it written on the front of the book would really damage their self esteem! It could also encourage the competitiveness that I have seen amongst parents at the school gates...