Childrens Books Ireland - If Kids Made the Reading Rules

If Kids Made the Reading Rules

Suppose you had been asked as a child, for your opinion about
how to improve your reading experience...

CBI is delighted to present: If Kids Made the Reading Rules initiative - an innovative poster containing 12 recommendations from kids for parents, teachers, libraries, publishers, authors, booksellers and illustrators.

If Kids Made the Reading Rules was officially launched by Norma McDermott, Director of the Library Council in Trim Library on Tuesday September 23rd at 4pm, with many of the young authors and their families present. You can see photos of the launch as well as News2day's coverage of the launch event below. Developed by Trim Library book club with author Conor Kostick and illustrator Alan Barrett, in this beautiful A2 poster the young readers of Trim have clearly stated what they need from the books in their lives and the results are pertinent, often funny and will resonate with children and adults alike. (In case you were wondering what recommendations didn't make it to the final poster, you can find that below as well!)

CBI’s Strategic Plan contains a commitment to give children a greater role in creating wider understanding of the importance of books for children. This positioning of young readers within our advocacy strategy was a new departure for CBI and we approached it with lots of enthusiasm but also with some trepidation. Our goal for 2008 was to develop a Charter of Entitlements with children relating to books and reading. We wanted a children's books charter written by children that could become part of CBI policy as well as something that can be shared with a wide audience.

We are very fortunate that Meath Libraries, Conor Kostick and Alan Barrett all accepted our invitation to get involved. CBI knew the members of the Trim Library book club, as they were one of three focus groups for the Turning the Page report. During that research project they contributed valuable insights and great energy so we were extremely confident in working with them again. Our major concern was to facilitate a structure that would allow the project freedom to produce an authentic output.

The project is a result of CBI’s commitment to give children a greater role in creating understanding of the importance of books for children. It is designed to be a talking point for adults and parents and for display in homes, schools, libraries and bookshops.

If Kids Made the Reading Rules is available from CBI on request or you can download a version here. if_kids_made_the_reading_rules_final

CBI would like to thank all the members of the Trim Library Group -

Emma Thornton     Grace Dennison    Eimear Quinn     Ruth Quinn
Tara Canny     Barbara Gorman     Oscar Rogan     Peter Honer
Carolanna Foley     James Foley    Sorcha Judge     Rachel Diviney
Danielle Corcoran-Hanlon     Ciara Shelly     Grainne Clarke    Aoife Morgan
Billie Morgan     Ailish Morgan     Sarah Savage     Aengus Clarke
Rachel Walsh     Richard Guiheen     Eoin O'Sullivan     Edward Maguire
Claudia Hoey     Conor MacGabhann

You can hear them talk about the project in their own words with News2day from The Den below or scroll down for more photos of the sessions in action.

There were plenty of suggestions that didn't make it to the final poster and you can read these below -

Who is the charter aimed at?

•   Writers
•   Teachers
•   Parents
•   Librarians
•   Publishers
•   Illustrators
•   Book sellers
•   Non-readers
•   Readers
•   Book communities
•   Parents
•   Teachers
•   Librarians

What would you like to say to a writer?

•    A good story doesn’t end too soon.
•    Don’t interrupt the excitement with a boring explanation.
•    We want stories that make fun of everyone.
•    Don’t put puns in stories for young people.
•    Don’t be too predictable.
•    Don’t finish with to be continued...
•    Don’t put the characters on the cover.
•    Don’t give away the story on the blurb.
•    Don’t drag it out to make it longer.
•    We want stories, not descriptions.
•    Make the characters believable.
•    Lots of small chapters are annoying.

For Teachers

•    Let us choose the books.
•    Let us swap books.
•    Let us read for fun (too many reports).
•    More reading time (stop-watch).
•    Research what books are available.
•    Get some new books every term.
•    Don’t be cheap.
•    Don’t treat us like idiots.
•    Take us to more book events.
•    Let us read as much as we like.
•    Don’t make us read aloud.
•    Don’t make us read below our level.

For Parents

•    Don’t force your children to read something because you liked it when you were young.
•    Don’t make us go outside if it's a nice day when we want to stay inside and read a book.
•    Do encourage your kids to read.
•    Do buy your kids books.
•    Do remember that we get older and better at reading.
•    If we’re reading don’t stop us for bed.
•    If we’re stuck on a word, let us figure it out for ourselves.
•    Don’t make us buy books with our own pocket money.

For Librarians

•    Should be encouraging and friendly
•    Pictures on the walls/paint the walls
•    Crazy, funny shapes.
•    Dens, trap doors, sofas, sweet shop, bean bags, cafe.
•    Books organised by subject.
•    Let us search the computer catalogue.
•    Help us when we get stuck.
•    Have lots of spare paper.
•    Bigger children section.
•    No grouch librarians!
•    Put the books back in right places!
•    Let us sit how we like when we’re reading!
•    If you have a series, make sure to get them all!
•    Put series together.
•    Make all librarians like Maedhbh.
•    Make librarians have a niceness test before they get the job.
•    Make the children's and adults' sections separate.
•    Don’t put the label or bar-code on the blurb.

Publishers

•    Have kids as consultants
•    No misleading reviews
•    Make cover reflect the book
        Don’t mislead the reader
•    Encourage new writers
•    Don’t over hype the books
•    Put try it read pg...
•    We like taster chapters
•    Charge less
•    Have the book live up to the title
•    Don’t rush out the sequel
•    Market the book to the right age
•    Don’t rush out a book of a movie


Illustrators

•    Leave something for our imagination
•    Older readers don't need a lot of illustrations
•    Picture not before relevant text
•    Should read book first
•    Nothing too small or too big
•    Dont use films for covers
•    We want stylish design for chapter heading
•    Films should respect pics. We are used to.
•    Illustrators should also do cover

Book Sellers

•    Good help
•    Its not up to the book seller to decide what is appropriate
•    Be nice
•    Let us try the book in the shop
•    Have seats
•    Don’t put the sticker over something important
•    Make the price clear
•    Staff recommendation posters
•    Don’t over promote one title
•    Have full series in stock
•    Make ordering books easy
•    Alphabetical order
•    Don’t stack in front of other books
•    Don’t stalk us around the shop

Non-readers

•    Respect people that read.
•    Try reading
•    Don’t ask us to tell you what happens.
•    Respect books, don’t damage them.
•    Don’t think reading isn't COOL!

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