There's a controversy brewing in UK children's publishing -
You know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with until you understand who's in ruttin' command here.
Jayne ,'The Train Job'
Literary Buffistas 3: Don't Parse the Blurb, Dear.
There's more to life than watching Buffy the Vampire Slayer! No. Really, there is! Honestly! Here's a place for Buffistas to come and discuss what it is they're reading, their favorite authors and poets. "Geez. Crack a book sometime."
Jars - Jun 06, 2008 1:25:25 am PDT #6049 of 28370
Anne W. - Jun 06, 2008 1:58:17 am PDT #6050 of 28370
The lost sheep grow teeth, forsake their lambs, and lie with the lions.
Jars, I hope that idea dies a quick and ignominious death.
flea - Jun 06, 2008 2:23:42 am PDT #6051 of 28370
information libertarian
Huh, I kind of thought that many if not most kids books in the US already had some notes about the suggested age/reading level. Not an industry-wide sticker sort of thing, but provided as part of cover copy by the publisher.
And for "early readers" there is a very detailed and very prominently noted staging (pre-reading, then levels 1 2 3 all boldly emblazoned on the wee little baby chapter books.)
DebetEsse - Jun 06, 2008 3:54:34 am PDT #6052 of 28370
Woe to the fucking wicked.
As a teacher, it would be nice if there were content warnings, although, practically speaking, that would be more "advertising" than "warning" in practice.
flea, I think those refer to difficulty of text (I can't imagine a level 3 book having things in it that would upset the parents of a level 1 reader), whereas this idea seems to be very content-related (which putting an age on is ridiculously subjective)
flea - Jun 06, 2008 4:04:00 am PDT #6053 of 28370
information libertarian
Ah, I didn't get the content emphasis. I have very poor reading comprehension this morning. Perhaps I should return to early reader stage 2.
hippocampus - Jun 06, 2008 4:14:32 am PDT #6054 of 28370
not your mom's socks.
As a teacher, it would be nice if there were content warnings, although, practically speaking, that would be more "advertising" than "warning" in practice.
sure, but lately those seem to be "First two sentences" - a friend of mine's first chapter of a children's book started with her character singing protest songs while locked in an outhouse... that was likely fairly self-selecting.
OT (sort of) - I read the Stephen King short story "In A Tight Spot" last night, after a friend had called it a classic. I'm still kind of stunned. Then I went back to my four pages of Chabon's Maps and Legends - it's lovely writing, but so smooth that I fall asleep. Which is good. and not.
Ginger - Jun 06, 2008 4:22:05 am PDT #6055 of 28370
"It didn't taste good. It tasted soooo horrible. It tasted like....a vodka martini." - Matilda
Shir, all I have to offer is more controversy: PDF file [link]
I can't find the quote listed in any of the references that include the source, like Bartlett's, although there are many other places that are attributing it to Balzac.
megan walker - Jun 06, 2008 8:05:05 am PDT #6056 of 28370
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
Does any of you know where it's from?
FYI, I can't find it on any French Balzac quotation sites. I found one version in French, but the French was off so I'm thinking it was a poor translation. Sadly, again, no text source, just attributed to Balzac.
DavidS - Jun 06, 2008 8:07:29 am PDT #6057 of 28370
"Look, son, if it's good enough for Shirley Bassey, it's good enough for you."
megan, are you around on Saturday?
Could I talk you into sitting with Matilda for an hour some time that day?
I can give you treats!
megan walker - Jun 06, 2008 8:10:49 am PDT #6058 of 28370
"What kind of magical sunshine and lollipop world do you live in? Because you need to be medicated."-SFist
I am around doing little projects and getting some things done before my family descends on Tuesday. Should be no problem, just let me know when.