Introduction

Children’s Book Age Ranges within the UK Book Trade Versus Children’s Average Reading Age.

There can be varying differences between a child’s physical age and their reading age, meaning that choosing books to fit a child’s physical age can be detrimental to their learning.

Deep Dive

Reading books below or beyond a child’s reading age can result in boredom, frustration, and a lack of confidence and interest in reading and, in turn, writing. The results can impact their literacy skills, learning, imagination, and creativity for years to come.

When visiting a book shop or an online site, we will find children’s books listed under specific age ranges, and many parents will naturally gravitate towards the section relating to their child’s physical age.

Within the UK, these age ranges tend to be listed as…

1. Board Books – New-born to 3 yrs.

2. Picture Books – ages 3 to 8 yrs.

3. Young Fiction (early chapter books) – 5 to 9 yrs.

4. Standalone Fiction (chapter books/novels) – 9 to 12 yrs.

5. And then on to Young Adult

But please be ware, Amazon work to a different set of age ranges - more in keeping with the US school system…

1. Board Books – New-born to 2 yrs.

2. Picture Books & Pre-school – ages 3 to 5 yrs.

3. Early readers and chapter books– 6 to 8years.

4. Middle Grade – 9 to 12 yrs.

5. Teen & YA chapter books – 13 to 18 yrs.

Within the UK, Amazon’s age ranges should be avoided. Parents within the UK will know their child’s average reading age through school reports and teacher meetings and so should use the UK standard ranges listed at the top.

Although not always fitting a child’s reading age, these commercial age ranges are necessary. After all, we as buyers need to know where to look, but we must also know what they are looking for.

Meaning if you are buying for a 6-year-old with a lower-than-average reading age, then you may still be looking at the higher end of the 3-to-8-year picture book bracket rather than chapter books within the 5-to-9-year age bracket. Similarly, if a 6-year-old is reading above their average reading age, then opting for books aimed at 5-7 years within the 5-to-9-year bracket may be necessary. Remember, vocabulary wise, there is a vast difference between a 5-year-old and a 9-year-old.

Similarly, with the 9-to-12-year age range. Again, there is a vast difference between a 9-year-old and a 12-year-old. If their reading age is lower than average, they might be reading in the 5- to 9-year-old chapter book category.

And, if a seven or eight year is naturally migrating towards picture books, then they may not yet be ready to move on to chapter books.

I cannot emphasise enough, the importance of staying within the reading abilities of children. Parents/carers can often feel the need to ‘pull’ a child’s reading ability up, getting them reading what the parent/carer feels a child should be reading for their physical age. But this can have dire consequences. It can fuel frustration, fear, a feeling of inadequacy and a feeling of inability as children struggle to read what their peers are reading. It can put children off reading for life, which will impact their further learning, creativity, and imaginations.

Knowing your children’s average reading age, something we are informed of regularly as our children progress through school, empowers us. It ensures we can give the appropriate books to our children. The best voices to listen to are those of our young readers. Their daily interactions, language skills and interests are at the root of the books that will interest them. If they are given reading age-appropriate books, feelings of struggling and being unable to read can diminish. Instead, a child can learn to enjoy reading and the adventures and worlds books bring to them. In turn, this feeds their literacy skills, creativity, and imagination.

As a parent/carer, you may feel frustrated that your child may not be reading at the same pace as their peers. But just as we as adults vary in our abilities, our children will vary in theirs. Don’t push your children to be the readers they are not, instead embrace who they are and read the levels appropriate to them. Keep their enjoyment and love of stories alive. This way, they are more likely to hold an interest in books and reading. After all, reading something is far better than not reading at all.

Call to Action

If you are not sure of your child’s average reading age, use this week to find out. A phone call, letter or chat with their teacher will help you establish which age range you should be looking at when buying or borrowing books. And, if you are lucky enough to find an author your child loves who writes in series, then these books could see you through for a few weeks and months while simultaneously feeding your child’s reading skills.