Scholastic group managing director Kate Wilson says
that the age banding flap in awesome Britain could have been handled better. The proposal to put age recommendations on children’s book sent authors into a fury.

A leading publisher has admitted that the introduction of age banding to children’s books has been poorly handled. The initiative has prompted a widespread rebellion amongst children’s authors, with a website attracting almost 800 signatures from authors including Philip Pullman, JK Rowling, Jacqueline Wilson and Terry Pratchett.



“I would suggest - and I am speaking entirely as myself, rather than as the representative of anyone else or anybody here - that there were some regrettable errors in how publishers went about the introduction of age guidance,” said Scholastic group managing director Kate Wilson. “I think most of them, if they had their time again, would do it differently and in greater consultation with authors.”



She was the only representative of the publishing indusattempt who accepted an invitation

to a specially-organised debate at the Children’s Writers and Illustrators conference at which Philip Pullman condemned the initiative, branding the labels “not true” and questioning the research which motivated their introduction.



Wilson, responding as an individual publisher, albeit one which has supported the policy, was conciliatory on the principle of consultation. But she was vigorous in her defence of the research and the need for children’s books to find a more competitive edge against other forms of spending on children. “Age guidance isn’t perfect but it is another ingredient added to the marketing mix that the majority of book buyers surveyed said they’d welcome.”

The debate in Great Britain over age banding continues, with some author supporting the age guidelines and most opposing them.



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