I thought this had been flagged already, so nice one, Spotty, for bringing it to everyone's attention.

I'm on the list, it really is important that parents, children's authors, anyone interested in how children read, look at the issues raised and sign up if, like me, and many others, you think this is a bad idea.

Children don't want it, many authors don't want it, many agents don't want it, librarians and teachers don't want it.

Thank you Lexi. I also feel strongly about this, and have added my insignificant monica to the list of greats. Do or do not, there is no try.



Bloggy-I Write Therefore I'm Happy

This sounds exactly like something i had to put up with all through primary school To make life easier for the teachers, they would make everyone in the class read books with the same colour code (pink and yellow for very easy, pale blue for harder, green for the oldest children for example). The teachers didn't care if you just happened to be able read well-you read what they told you to or they called your parents in to complain and make you choose a book in the approved colour range for your age and they would confiscate a harder, more complex book you brought in yourself. Admittedly it might just have been me and my school but it was bloody infuriating and frustrating nonetheless

In short, age banding is (and apologies for the language) retarded; if you start putting age banding on childrens' books and telling them that they can only read those that match their age, it isn't going to challenge many of 'em, some might well struggle and many will probably be held back.

I've signed up too and totally support the campaign. I'm an ex teacher of English as foreign language - immediate group of young people likely to be reading below the age they 'ought' to be at - and now work in youth justice where there is another huge cohort of young people who read below their chronological age. What a brilliant way to motivate young people who already think they're total failures but who otherwise might quite have enjoyed the book in question!

It's more to do with the fact that more and more books are being sold through supermarkets.

It is fascinating to see the angst that this is causing in the publishing world, given that so many authors are against it. A lot of authors are or have been teachers whereas publishers generally have not. Interestingly, I note that Pullman, who was a teacher, is vehemently anti. Reeve, who has just won the Carnegie, is pro but he is has always been in the book industry. I wonder whether there is a split.