tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post8785205721012842952..comments2024-02-17T09:53:06.168+00:00Comments on Notes from the Slushpile: Living with the New Realities of Children's PublishingCandy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07802791643303335762noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-51247213108015539112008-06-19T16:17:50.638+01:002008-06-19T16:17:50.638+01:00Interesting, Candy and lots of links to follow!! ...Interesting, Candy and lots of links to follow!! I want to read more about this. I'm still not sure whether I agree with age ranging or not. I can see that it could have some use - but then a good bookseller can advise on appropriate books - but will undoubtedly put some children off. I asked my daughter, who is 12, what she thought and she said that she didn't care if a book said 9+ and has big writing as long as the plot was good and it looked interesting. Sadly, she may be in a minority with this view. Thanks for all the info though - a one stop shop on age ranging!!<br><br>Sue HyamsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-74409356133922825792008-06-20T22:09:37.581+01:002008-06-20T22:09:37.581+01:00I disagree with age banding, as I've said befo...I disagree with age banding, as I've said before. I know things have to change, I work in education for goodness sake, things change every other day there, but I worry about the effect that age banding will have on reluctant readers. I have only my own experience to go on but I've seen how books, age banded in schools to help teachers guide pupils can demoralise pupils with SEN. I signed.Jon Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04299901366453310075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-73241020733106492172008-06-21T13:29:32.057+01:002008-06-21T13:29:32.057+01:00Thanks for this really informative article Candy. ...Thanks for this really informative article Candy. I think the reason that such emotive language is used is because reading and access to knowledge is so important to a child's development and age-banding could have the very opposite effect of what was intended. Instead of being a handy <i>guide</i> as they say is the intention, it will, in all likelihood pigeon-hole readers. <br>Now my eldest son was reading at age 3. He soaked it up and loved it. My daughter had little interest and was very reluctant to read for pleasure. My youngest who is going to be 5 in September won't even learn his sounds. He doesn't even like being read to, much less read himself. Should my reluctant readers be doomed to be shamed by reading books with an age band less than their own age because of some ill-thought out decision by a crowd of marketing executives? My only hope, in continuing to encourage them to love books and reading, is to show them that it's for everyone. And by that I mean all types of readers.<br><br>I love children's books. While I encourage my kids to expand their reading to higher levels, I also encourage them to read all kinds of everything and not limit themselves. <br><br>Then there's my eldest, who at 13, is reading less than he has ever done. He doesn't browse in bookshops or on amazon. He reads what they give him at school or books I buy for myself. (I read mostly YA). I absolutely believe that this is because there isn't a "reading for pleasure" culture in teens. I think that this is because despite there being fantastic YA books out there, they are bunched up with middle grade books in the back <i>child friendly</i> section of the book shop. I really believe that YA should be a completely separate section, with its own classifications. <br><br>I read an article recently which said that YA was the only expanding market in publishing in the US. Surely if that's the case the UK book market should be exploiting it.<br><br>For me age-banding is way too restrictive. I believe the guidance should be more general and reflected in the layout of the bookshop itself with children's, middle grade and YA books being given separate sections. If the worry is about content - well that's a whole 'nother debate!JaneyVhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04951739945670483199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-43199142264195782622008-06-22T10:47:57.087+01:002008-06-22T10:47:57.087+01:00thanks for the comments, all. i was interested in ...thanks for the comments, all. <br><br>i was interested in janey's comment that more teens would read if booksellers would give their books a place away from the kiddy sections of the shops.<br><br>these are the same booksellers who dont' have the time, culture or the inclination to engage with customers who don't know which books to buy for children - hence age-ranging.<br><br>the "new" booksellers - supermarkets and big chains (at least Amazon has reader comments)- can make or break a book ... how can publishers stand up to them?Candy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08007409312955086752noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-15701496452262581832008-06-22T21:10:45.253+01:002008-06-22T21:10:45.253+01:00I think Janey's point is very interesting, cha...I think Janey's point is very interesting, changing the shopping environment to guide customers seems more subtle.Jon Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04299901366453310075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-30205484044991060772008-06-23T19:08:15.587+01:002008-06-23T19:08:15.587+01:00Candy I love reading your posts... always informat...Candy I love reading your posts... always informative. What are we to do in today's publishing world? Sing a song, get a recording contract, marry a footballer and then get a publishing contract. Not sure reverse order would work so well... know of any authors who then married footballers or released a song? I'd love to know the stats on that.Judehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14121286194338647357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-701894736280253278.post-47446119384052982832008-06-24T14:37:33.077+01:002008-06-24T14:37:33.077+01:00in the spirit of putting myself forward for my cra...in the spirit of putting myself forward for my craft, i would willingly marry a footballer to see if it increases my chances. but i'm already spoken for. how about you?Candy Gourlayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08007409312955086752noreply@blogger.com