tags for children's books

What would be the main breakdown of different books within children's literature?

I am thinking of picture book, reader, chapterbook...what else?

where would the Golden Compass fit in?

How about Little house in the Big Woods?

when does young adult start?

I just want to tag our own library, but it is probably nice to stick with some generally used terms

Thanks

In my estimation:

Picture books are short books of illustrated story with the text in almost a supporting position. The text is designed to be read to small children, and may be of a fairly high reading level (level 5 or 6 sometimes.).

Readers, also known as Easy Readers, use a restricted vocabulary and repetition to help the emerging reader learn to interpret words into ideas. Usually liberally illustrated, don't usually work well as read-alouds.

Chapter books are longer books designed for older students - usually beginning in late 2nd grade into 3rd grade. Reading levels vary, but don't usually dip below the 3.0 range. (Caleb's Story by Patricia MacLachlan is an exception - about a level 2.5 or so). Illustrations are limited or nonexistent as the intended audience reading level increases.

Graphic novels are profusely illustrated in the comic book or comic strip style, and tell a more extended story - on the order of chapter books. Reading levels can be quite sophisticated, and are not usually intended for the more primary readers.

YA or Young Adult is a difficult area to quantify. I usually put the boundary at the 6th grade or so. YA is typified not only by reading level (or not even by reading level!), but by its appeal to the teenager or near-teenager by way of characters or problems of interest to this age group.

Golden Compass? Probably YA.

Little House in the Big Woods? Chapter book. Reading level is much lower than for subsequent books in this series.

Thank you very much MerryMary.

Can I ask what you would call the other books in the Little House series?

Do you just separate books above early readers into novels and short novels? I generally tag adult fiction as novels. I could live with children, then novel, but wondered if there is a specific term for the catergory.

When people talk about books for ages and grades, is this based on the reading level and not on the content, as with YA?

Thanks again

Usually books for kids are based on reading level and content. I would say content is probably more important. For instance, The Color Purple is written at about a level 4 - but I would argue that most 4th graders are not ready for that book!

Books that are good for a particular age usually have characters that are the age of the reader - or a little older - and face problems and situations that the reader can understand and identify with.

The books in the Little House series are all chapter books, but the reading level goes up a bit after the first one. Laura wrote the first one to be a companion book to Farmer Boy (she planned to call it "Pioneer Girl"), but ended up writing the rest of the series due to the reception her first books engendered.

Technically, I suppose any longer fiction book would be called a novel. But, you're right, I usually use the term for YA and adult books.

You seem to have touched a button that makes me spew out everything I know!! I just retired from 35 years of being a k-12 school librarian, and I'm showing off!

MerryMary I remember beginning to tag, and just having no idea of what to choose. I'd love to have had this advice!

I think every use does approach this differently, but the more time you spend with children's books, the easier navigating librarything tags become.

My tags include age levels. For example, I use age 7-10, age 9-12, age adult. If it is on the back of the book, I use their recommended level. If it's not, I try to compare the format, words used, and content to familiar books & rank accordingly. I also add tags for reading level if it is on the book, but those don't mean as much to me as general ages. Good luck creating a system you can relate to.

Thanks everyone

I am based in Japan, and my children's library is soley based on books I search out and buy online. I don't have access to a library or bookstore with English titles, so it is somewhat hit and miss, but I enjoy searching around to find things my kids might enjoy.

Otherwise, I think I might just go down to the library and ask how they divide up the books.

I also find it hard to compare reading levels and ages as my kids live in a non English speaking environment. They read pretty well, but I have no idea how they would compare to peers.

My eldest is still only eight, but I have a few books that are for older kids. I quite enjoy reading them at the moment.

I think I will have to ask the kids to come up with the tags for the Japanese language titles.

Thanks again.

Remember, too, that kids comprehend at a higher level than they read. You can read aloud to them stories that may be too hard for them to read on their own. If I can ever help with recommendations or with acquiring any special book, please let me know. I'd love to help.

MerryMary,

What would be your best advice for developing a love of reading among children, aside from reading aloud the them? I've been reading to both of my kids since birth, and my daughter is now in kindergarten. I try sometimes to work with her on the level 1 easy reader books. Sometimes she seems to enjoy it, and other times she just shuts down. I can understand why the books are not as interesting to her, since we read chapter books now at bedtime. I don't want to push too hard, but I admit I live in fear of having kids that don't love reading the way I do. My fantasy is one day to have the whole family sitting together, each reading our separate books!

Off the top of my head, the best thing you can do is what you are doing. Read to them. Let them see you reading for your own enjoyment - often. Attitude is EVERYTHING!

One thing that seems to be fun for my little grand-daughter is to find words and letters she knows in non-book places. She wants to read stop signs, and store signs, and McDonald menus, and birthday cards. She doesn't know very many words yet, but she says the letters out loud and wants to know what they spell. And they remember! Then, when a child sees the same letter or word in a book, they can sometimes make the connection.

Don't worry if your daughter's attention span is short (because it is, let's face it.). When she starts to lose interest, let her go. Praise every single correct identification of a word or a letter when you're out and about. She'll find it to be more and more fun.

You really love to read. She'll pick up on that. Talk about what you're reading and why it is good, or interesting, or fun. If it is part of her every day life (and it probably is), she'll think loving books is normal. And it is!

Hi jhedlund,

Our son has his own bookcase in his room, as well as a ten litre tub which sits in our lounge, containing everything he's reading right now including library books and his own books. At 2.5 years old he is an avid library goer, as he got his own library membership at 10 days old. He has his favourite librarians, and knows exactly where everything is in the two different branches I take him to on a weekly basis.
Every morning when he gets up, he comes out and reads material in his book box - we have to prod him to eat breakfast sometimes! However, he does have books that he doesn't like as much as others, and I do ask him why he doesn't like that particular title. It can take several reading for him to enjoy some books/authors - Dr Seuss for example.
Being an enthusiastic reading parent is the key - I'm now being told 'Stop reading now, Mama' when I'm reading my own books, as Rory wants me to read to him, or he wants to read to me!