In preparing submissions, publishers might find it useful to consider these points which are drawn from selection panel experience and evidence from National Literacy Trust, CLPE and BookTrust:

Age categorisation can limit reading appeal and entrench existing stigma for readers who are not reading at the level consistent with their age. Using open added categories can avoid this e.g. 5+, 8+

• ‘Children can be easily put off when they feel adults are making judgements about their reading choices.’[1] 

Less confident and keen readers are often drawn in by books that can be dipped into meaning there is a role for non-narrative and information texts

• ‘Children need to engage with information texts that represent their interests as well as those that are curriculum related.’[2]

Illustrations can give immediacy to written texts and can help to ‘scaffold’ less confident readers or those for whom English is an Additional Language

• ‘A focus on reading illustration helps to develop children’s deeper comprehension skills, allowing them additional opportunities to infer, deduce, think critically and empathise.’[3]

Poetry and verse novels can provide an accessible route into reading and building reading skills, the white space often providing less daunting than ‘a wall of text’.

• ‘Poetry is many children’s route into reading.  Its rhythms and patterns introduce children to a wide range of  reading skills…  Wordplay is one of the most basic pleasures of poetry, giving the opportunity for playing games with language so that the shapes, sounds, and rhythms of words are enjoyed as well as their meaning.’[4]

Books which tie with children and young people’s existing interests such as video games can provide a route into reading and improve young people’s confidence in reading

• ‘Children need to engage with information texts that represent their interests as well as those that are curriculum related.’[5]
• ‘1 in 3 young people who play video games believe playing these makes them a better reader.’[6]

Seeing oneself reflected in the books that are read can form a powerful and deep connection meaning representation is important

• ‘Children’s books can act as mirrors, to reflect the readers’’ own lives, but also as windows so readers can learn about, understand and appreciate the lives of others.’[7]

[1] Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, ‘Choosing and Using Children’s Texts – What we Know Works’

[2] Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, ‘Choosing and Using Children’s Texts – What We Know Works’.

[3] Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, ‘The Power of Pictures’

[4] Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, ‘Poetry in Primary Schools – What we Know Works’ (2018)

[5] Centre for Literacy in Primary Education, ‘Choosing and Using Children’s Texts – What We Know Works’.

[6] Picton, Irene; Clark, Christina and Judge, Tim; National Literacy Trust Video Game Playing and Literacy: A Survey of Young People Aged 11 to 16

[7] Ramdarshan Bold, Melanie, ‘BookTrust Represents: Representation of People of Colour among Children’s Book Authors and Illustrators’ (2019)