Oh-oh-oh" Age ranges! That's been my bugbear for 27 years. As a teacher I wrote over 600 poems for use with or by pupils across the age range Yrs 4 to 8 across most curriculum areas (yes, including poems about maths) and for every age/ability band you can think of. Whenever anyone asks me why I never tried to get anything formally published I tried to explain that I have never had a consistent theme, focus, age or ability level in mind when I wrote. It was always class/group/curriculum or age-band related. I've just spent most of my retirement sorting everything out and trying to compartmentalise by theme, type or - - - - yes - - - - age applicability. It's been a DIY exercise in How-To-Quickly-Give-Myself-A-Headache. But I've had fun doing it. The one important point I would add is that age and ability need to be taken into consideration as a pair. Some 4 years-olds can read as well as much older children whose skills are less well developed. So it's not just age that needs to be a key factor. Your advice for those who are able to concentrate on a particular style or age range is excellent. It was interesting that you said "... these things come naturally to a parent or grandparent who's reading to a child..". I regret that far too often, children do not live in that kind of environment. It's more common that many realise for children to be book-illiterate during their early years. I've encountered far too many children who start school with no history of ever having been read to. I recall one parent who said that they never saw the point of trying to talk to their child until they started talking. I can only assume that child had someone else in the family who wasn't that much of a fool. People often blame TV and computer games for children's lack of interest in books and reading, but that is too simplistic an assumption. Those children who have family members who read to them from an early age, will develop a fondness for, and appreciation of reading whether that be in books, ebooks or what-have-you. (That latter being a very special genre). OK. I'll shut up now after that rant and just end by once again thanking you for all the help you give to those who want to start creating storybooks. Happy new year.
oh, no, this wasn't a rant. it was very helpful. as a child, I laughed when I saw the age brackets in books because I was younger than what the book said I could be, and yet I still understood it. now, as a young adult, I have met kids who are the same age as I was back then but not the same level. it's been very strange, but I've let their own circumstances guide my storybook journey. (I will look up 'universal' guides too, just like I'm doing now). you're completely right, alan. your comment was insightful
You raise some really good points. The age range is mostly a marketing tool, and definitely not a one-size-fits-all. It makes me feel a bit icky at times, but as an author, we need to understand it, otherwise it becomes a problem. I’m such an advocate for reading to babies and children, I forget not everyone is so passionate about it, and many adults don’t have the literacy skills themselves. It’s sad to hear stories like your one where the parent didn’t bother talking to the child.
Happy New Year lovely lady. Another helpful and thoughtful video. Working on my first one, culling it down, trying to figure how to get down from 42 pages. Based on this video, I'm hovering at the far end of early readers. The three of us go on imaginary flights of adventure together. My imaging is simple and I am using compass images to teach directions that we are flying. I'm using my 7 & 10 year old grands as a guideline, as they are my central characters. You might find this entertaining, my 6 yr old (now 7) grand daughter was caught trying to teach the cats to read. The kids just started reading the Borrowers and Unicorn Academy. I have a dear friend who is helping edit the dialogue. Nanu Nanu
I fear my first two books are more geared for grandparents or parents reading to their kids. But my next two are definitely more for the kids. Thanks for the video!
What is the age range and word count for Chapter books?
Oh-oh-oh" Age ranges! That's been my bugbear for 27 years. As a teacher I wrote over 600 poems for use with or by pupils across the age range Yrs 4 to 8 across most curriculum areas (yes, including poems about maths) and for every age/ability band you can think of. Whenever anyone asks me why I never tried to get anything formally published I tried to explain that I have never had a consistent theme, focus, age or ability level in mind when I wrote. It was always class/group/curriculum or age-band related. I've just spent most of my retirement sorting everything out and trying to compartmentalise by theme, type or - - - - yes - - - - age applicability. It's been a DIY exercise in How-To-Quickly-Give-Myself-A-Headache. But I've had fun doing it.
The one important point I would add is that age and ability need to be taken into consideration as a pair. Some 4 years-olds can read as well as much older children whose skills are less well developed. So it's not just age that needs to be a key factor.
Your advice for those who are able to concentrate on a particular style or age range is excellent. It was interesting that you said "... these things come naturally to a parent or grandparent who's reading to a child..". I regret that far too often, children do not live in that kind of environment. It's more common that many realise for children to be book-illiterate during their early years. I've encountered far too many children who start school with no history of ever having been read to. I recall one parent who said that they never saw the point of trying to talk to their child until they started talking. I can only assume that child had someone else in the family who wasn't that much of a fool. People often blame TV and computer games for children's lack of interest in books and reading, but that is too simplistic an assumption. Those children who have family members who read to them from an early age, will develop a fondness for, and appreciation of reading whether that be in books, ebooks or what-have-you. (That latter being a very special genre).
OK. I'll shut up now after that rant and just end by once again thanking you for all the help you give to those who want to start creating storybooks. Happy new year.
oh, no, this wasn't a rant. it was very helpful. as a child, I laughed when I saw the age brackets in books because I was younger than what the book said I could be, and yet I still understood it. now, as a young adult, I have met kids who are the same age as I was back then but not the same level. it's been very strange, but I've let their own circumstances guide my storybook journey. (I will look up 'universal' guides too, just like I'm doing now). you're completely right, alan. your comment was insightful
You raise some really good points. The age range is mostly a marketing tool, and definitely not a one-size-fits-all. It makes me feel a bit icky at times, but as an author, we need to understand it, otherwise it becomes a problem.
I’m such an advocate for reading to babies and children, I forget not everyone is so passionate about it, and many adults don’t have the literacy skills themselves.
It’s sad to hear stories like your one where the parent didn’t bother talking to the child.
Happy New Year lovely lady. Another helpful and thoughtful video.
Working on my first one, culling it down, trying to figure how to get down from 42 pages. Based on this video, I'm hovering at the far end of early readers.
The three of us go on imaginary flights of adventure together. My imaging is simple and I am using compass images to teach directions that we are flying.
I'm using my 7 & 10 year old grands as a guideline, as they are my central characters. You might find this entertaining, my 6 yr old (now 7) grand daughter was caught trying to teach the cats to read. The kids just started reading the Borrowers and Unicorn Academy.
I have a dear friend who is helping edit the dialogue.
Nanu Nanu
Jules...
Thank YOU so much for taking the time out to explain this most important topic of age range. I greatly appreciate it. 😉
excellent video, Jules - thank you!!
Thank you for the helpful video, I am thinking of writing my first ever children's book and this was quite informative.
Glad it was helpful!
Thank you for the video! I have to admit I was starting to feel a little thick because I have struggled with this so much.
Hope everything is good 😊
Jules, I'm about to publish my first book and I found this so helpful! Thanks!
your information is really awesome and to the point
Glad it was helpful!
Thanks for the video. What is the age range and word count for Chapter books?
This was pretty helpful, thanks!
Happy New Year Jules, thank you for such a lovely video and the advice! As usual you're so helpful. 😘
Thank you so much! Your videos are so helpful un useful!!! I am writer of crime novels :) ...wishing to write children's books.
I fear my first two books are more geared for grandparents or parents reading to their kids.
But my next two are definitely more for the kids.
Thanks for the video!
It’s all a learning curve- all worthwhile 😊
What software do you use to create pages in children's books?
I use In Design.
I am only 11 and I want to create a book for my age
❤️