new posts in all blogs
Viewing: Blog Posts Tagged with: age groups, Most Recent at Top [Help]
Results 1 - 6 of 6
How to use this Page
You are viewing the most recent posts tagged with the words: age groups in the JacketFlap blog reader. What is a tag? Think of a tag as a keyword or category label. Tags can both help you find posts on JacketFlap.com as well as provide an easy way for you to "remember" and classify posts for later recall. Try adding a tag yourself by clicking "Add a tag" below a post's header. Scroll down through the list of Recent Posts in the left column and click on a post title that sounds interesting. You can view all posts from a specific blog by clicking the Blog name in the right column, or you can click a 'More Posts from this Blog' link in any individual post.
.jpg?picon=1806)
By:
Heather Dyer,
on 2/2/2015
Blog:
An Awfully Big Blog Adventure
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
Young Adult,
chapter books,
early readers,
content,
age groups,
middle grade readers,
age appropriate,
word counts,
Heather Dyer,
age categories,
Add a tag
One reason that new writers have their books rejected is because their writing style doesn't match the content: either the language is too sophisticated for such a simple storyline - or the story is too long or complicated for the target readership.
Admittedly, it's difficult to categorize books into specific age categories. Children are individuals, after all. Some advanced readers might not be very worldly-wise, and won't yet be ready for 'grittier' stories. Meanwhile, some of their peers may be ready for 'older' content but can't handle more sophisticated language.
But to give your story the best chance of publication, the content needs to match the writing style for that particular age category.
The publishing and bookselling industry tries to help buyers by dividing books into four main groups: picture books, young or early readers, middle grade readers (an American term) and young adult novels. As part of a new course I'm teaching in Writing for Children, I’ve started trying to identify qualities common to books in each age category. Boundaries will be blurred - but I'd love to know what you think of this chart. Am I right?
Picture books Age 0-5 | Early readers 5-7 | Middle grade 7-11 | YA fiction 12+ |
0 - 200 words 24,32 or 40 pages. | 500-1,500 | 10-20,000 | 50,000+ |
Full colour illustrations | Black and white line drawings every other page | Black and white line drawings every few pages. | No illustrations |
Domestic or fantasy settings | Usually domestic settings. | Domestic magic and high fantasy. Realistic settings with parental supervision unless there’s a good reason (fantasy) | The wider world. High fantasy. |
| Larger font size, restricted vocabulary. Dialogue. | Large proportion of dialogue, more complex. | |
| Shorter sentences | More sophisticated sentences. | Lots of interior monologue, reflection, longer speeches. |
Text works with illustrations. | Very short paragraphs. | Paragraphs a bit longer. | |
Nearly no description | Minimal description, but a few sparkling details true to a young reader’s perception of the world. | Detailed setting and character description. | Detailed setting and character description. |
Usually in third person | Usually in third person. Some character development possible. | Usually in third person. Rounded characters. Character development more obvious. | Often in first person, and present tense. It’s all about me. |
Anthropomorphism, inanimate objects made animate. Familiar roles, settings, objects. | A talking animal almost always points to an early reader. Children in comic or adventure situations, usually having a good time, nothing too awful happens. | Children in danger, frightening situations, facing fears and fighting good and evil. But the real world isn’t too real. | Can be very dark and realistic. Dystopian futures, tragedy, abuse, drugs, etc. Also comedy sex/romance. |
| No sex or romance. | Romance is light and about friendships. Or subliminal. | Anything goes. |
For the youngest bracket, not necessarily stories with problems solved, but simply an exploration of the world. | Often deal with smaller problems resolved in a shorter time frame. Stakes are lower. | Children with flaws, interactions with peers. Children save the day or resolve things themselves. Growing understanding of the world and their place in it. | Young adults dealing with finding their own way in the world, changing the world or making a name for themselves; asserting themselves; finding own values. |
Can be present tense. | Past tense, no leaping around in time or flashbacks. | Still rarely using flashbacks unless short recollections by a character. | Can play with chronology; transitions, flashbacks etc. |
Happy endings or comforting closure. | Happy endings. | Happy or at least hopeful endings. | Usually at least hopeful, but recently have been a few with bleak endings. |
Listen to RLF Fellows talk on the subject 'Why I Write'
By: Editorial Anonymous,
on 2/21/2011
Blog:
Editorial Anonymous
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
age groups,
Add a tag
I'm finishing an illustration-only book. It was intended for children, but it's suitable for all ages.
Please refer to
this post.
So would it be considered a children's picture book because it meets the page-count criteria, or could it be stretched to the novelty category and submitted to agents that don't accept children's fiction? It seems to me that novelty can be a tough sell, but aren't consumers more likely to purchase a novelty/gift book than, say, a fifteen-dollar picture book? I ask that realizing your answer most likely is that it depends on the pictures, but feel free to surprise me here.
It depends on the pictures---and the topic.
There is a core audience for your book. I'm guessing, from your question, that the topic or treatment is somewhat adult, and the only reason you think it might be a children's book is the format. I don't suppose you've seen
Baby, Mix Me a Drink? Or
Furverts? Those are both board book formats, a format associated with infants and toddlers. Does the format make them for that audience? OH HELL NO.
Of course, there are some picture books published every year by children's imprints for which the audience is really adults. The ones who skate that line in an acceptable way are usually light-hearted life advice, like: "if you love someone, set them free." They are bought as graduation gifts (see
Walk On or
Oh The Places You'll Go). The ones that don't are usually dreadful and sometimes psychotic life advice, like: "if you love someone, let them chop you down to a stump."
But graduation gifts is a difficult niche to publish into---more difficult than adult novelty books.
Figure out who your audience is. Good luck!
I have written a caption picture book (no illustrations) and was curious if I should use the word "caption" in my queries to identify it as such. Also, should I mention the word length (under 500 words)?
As the term "caption book" is more common among educators than other people, I would only recommend using it only if you are submitting to an educational publisher. Otherwise, call it a 'leveled reader' or a 'beginning reader'.
There are very specific guidelines for vocabulary, line length, sentence length, etc. in leveled readers, so I hope you know what you're doing. I'm sure beginning readers of every kind look very easy to people unfamiliar with them, but creating an honestly entertaining text for children who are still sounding out words is HARD. Current favorite:
The Cat On the Mat Is FlatYes, do include the word count.
Say a person has a fun middle grade book, but decided to break it into many picture books instead. Both make the author happy. The author isn't sure which format would make agents and publishers happy. Should author mention it in any way in a query? Like..."This picture book is first in series of many episodes with this character..." in hopes that they could assume it could be changed into a chapter book? Probably not, right?
I can't quite get past your first sentence.
You broke your middle grade manuscript into many picture book manuscripts?
Point 1.
Picture books are not just shorter.They're for a younger audience. Which means the writing and pacing and voice are different. I got a picture book manuscript just last week that clearly had chapter book voice and pacing. The author wanted to do a series of picture books. I said no, and I wondered if the author knew how to write for either age group, since she doesn't seem to see a difference between them.
Point 2.
Middle grade books are not just longer.If your middle grade book was that easily chopped up into picture book-length stories, it must have been a hell of an episodic book-- a collection of short stories, in fact, rather than a cohesive narrative.
Obviously, I can't tell for sure about your work, since I haven't read it. But from this description, I would have strong doubts about it working as a picture book
or as a middle grade novel. Take it from me, they are
not equal possibilities for
anyone's manuscript. One or the other age group is going to work better, and you will be a stronger writer when you
figure out which one.
By: Editorial Anonymous,
on 7/4/2009
Blog:
Editorial Anonymous
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
age groups,
Add a tag
Q1: Would you please explain the difference between the YA and Teen categories, and itemize the grades that correspond?Most people I know use YA and teen fairly interchangeably.But you're really over-thinking this. The thing to remember when you're having a little obsessive freak-out about age range terminology is this: there's no secret dictionary that book professionals have agreed upon.
By: Stephanie,
on 12/12/2007
Blog:
OUPblog
(
Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags:
shocked,
blog,
Oxford,
Anatoly,
Liberman,
Etymologist,
OUP,
A-Featured,
Lexicography,
Oxford Etymologist,
cry,
shone,
smite,
smote,
smitten,
shined,
shake,
shook,
shaken,
sing,
sang,
sung,
shock,
cried,
shine,
past,
participle,
Add a tag
By Anatoly Liberman
Strange things have been observed in the history of the verb shine, or rather in the history of its preterit (past). To begin with, a reminder. Verbs that change their vowels in the formation of the preterit and past participle are called strong (for instance, sing—sang—sung, shake—shook—shaken, smite—smote—smitten), in contradistinction to verbs that achieve the same results with the help of -t or -d (for instance, shock—shocked—shocked, cry—cried—cried). For practical purposes this division is almost useless, for weak verbs can also change their vowels, as in sleep—slept, and mixed types exist (the past of strew is strewed, but the past participle is usually strewn). (more…)
Share This
Are you referencing Shel Silverstein's 'The Giving Tree'? I thought that was a story about the self-sacrificing and unconditional love of a mother, who gives a good part of herself for the health and happiness of her child, from conception onwards really. That's how I read it when I picked up my nephew's copy - not so much life advice as holding up a mirror to motherhood.
Arthur Levine put out a great one a few years back called "How Are You Peeling" (and others by the same creators, Elffers and Freymann). I think it is a general audience book, even though it is marketed for kids. Probably would be harder to market for adults, though.
We have it and we all love it. Fun with fruits and vegetables!
Ah, EA, I would've guessed you were a fellow Giving Tree loather. IMHO, the people who dote on that book haven't read it very carefully.
The late Mr. Silverstein probably didn't think it worth mentioning that the tale had been slightly misinterpreted, while those royalty checks were rolling in.
I've seen people give The Giving Tree for many reasons and in many situations, and I'm afraid I always feel it's inappropriate.
Certainly there is some self-sacrifice in parenthood (what else is getting up at 3:00 am to clean up an infant with a stomach bug?). But utter sacrifice to another person-- sacrifice that leaves you ruined and destitute, dead?
Taking a bullet for your child is perfectly understandable, but letting them wipe their feet on you because their shoes are dirty is not.
I think one of the most important responsibilities of parenting (especially as the child grows older) is to role model a full and happy adult life, so that your child sees how it's done. Modeling an adulthood in which you destroy yourself for other people is sick. Is that what you want for your children?
Lol. As a child I thought that book was great and I couldn't see why my mother hated it so much.
Now, I see.
And I hate it too. And I find it somewhat annoying when other people love it.
But isn't there some irony in the fact that a tree actually did have to give it's life to make that book? And that that tree is totally unappreciated because of the book that was printed on it.
"If you love someone, let them chop you down to a stump."
That comment's a keeper!
A recent EA post reminds us "true generosity comes without obligation," in which case the Giving Tree is setting the best possible example for her boy. This giving without obligation is necessary anyway for the sake of continued life, but I'm not sure Silverstein's observations as recorded in the book don't agree with you too - especially in the world today, where infantilized adults keep on consuming without any regard or responsibility for the world or others. When I think of it I'm reminded as well by advice I once read elsewhere - don't forget your other half (and your own life), as your children will leave you. Still, the parents must set the example if the children are to learn from it and return a little care when the parents have nothing left to give.
As a former CCD student (and current CCD teacher), my loathing for the giving tree comes from all the adults over the years who tried to treat it as a religious parable. Inevitably, it all devolved into really, really bad theology of what "sacrificial love" actually means.
On the other hand, it does provide a GREAT example of a co-dependant relationship. Though I think John Forestor (folk singer) did a better job with the concept...
"You hold your breath, dear, and I'll turn blue, cause I'm so co-dependant with you! You unstable you, I'll enable you...."
I'd like to think the intended message of "The Giving Tree" is "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be A**holes," but maybe I'm just deluding myself.
Actually, being unappreciated by cruel and heartless children is a constant theme in Silverstein's work... I mean, think about the ABZ book-- constant references to poor, unappreciated Uncle Shelby. Of course, as we see from "A Boy Named Sue," he also felt that the legacy parents bequeath to their children is one of pain and suffering.
Clearly, he was writing as a form of therapy.
What I find odd about people's love for Giving Tree is that, given the rest of Silverstein's work, it's pretty clear that he's usually writing tongue in cheek. Yet people take the giving tree as some deep, earnest story about how much they love their kids....
Really, I think the tree is like LC.S. Lewis's description of those mothers who simply live for everyone else around them--- and you can tell, because of the hunted, miserable looks on everyone else.
Or, as the old saying goes: "A Saint is someone who has to live with a Martyr."
this is a great send up of the giving tree for people who loathe it:
sassy gay friend: the giving tree
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYQavD9mSIc
Haha! The first thing that went through my mind when I reached the "nether regions" of that post was "Aww! The Giving Tree!" Then, I promptly read your interpretation, and couldn't help but also think, "Fair enough." I think my favorite thing about my copy of The Giving Tree is the calligraphy writing of the family friend who gave it to me inside the front cover.
... and that concludes today's segment of "childhood memories from random strangers."
This is not related to the post, but I thought it is relevant to share...
A comic strip from Posy Simmonds on the preconceived ideas about the world of Children's Picture Books...
http://blog.drawn.ca/post/3445342771/a-too-true-view-of-childrens-publishing-by-the
I recently ran across a picture book, It's a Book by Lane Smith and although there are some children who may enjoy it, there was definitely an adultness to it. I don't mind that really although I can't imagine it being an easy sell and if it weren't such a popular children's book writer and illustrator, I do wonder if it would have been published.