Book stages and appropriateness of subject

[AlwaysSickAndTired]

Hello everyone. My DS turned 6 just a few days ago and he's in Year 1. Within the ORT scheme he brings home stages 11 and 12 books which are appropriate for his level in terms of reading, but the book he's been given today strikes me as inappropriate in terms of subject-matter. I am genuinely interested in everyone's opinion as I'm not sure I should let my DS read it at all and also, should I tell the teacher? The book is War Children by Fiona Macdonald and it is a TreeTops non-fiction Stage 11 book. I just feel that it will be upsetting for such a young person, it uses words such as fighting, horror, death, Nazi, terrible, destructive horrible, bomb, unkind foster parents, anxiety, fear of death... to name but a few. I mean, it's a pretty harrowing read.

i think it would depend on the child. some children are not ready for this sort of topic at this age. I will agree with you there. If you feel your child is not able to deal with it i would have a quiet word with the teacher and see if you could swap it.

My ds (5 1/2) would probably be ok with it but he has a very interesting personality and i have learnt the hard way about 1. how well he can programm the tv, 2. what topics interest him and 3. how well he can actually read and what he choses to read when left in the childrens section for 5 mins. For him the result has been nagging me about life insurance and wills and legal gardians

I would be concerned if it dealt with the holocaust which is something I feel strongly that although children should learn about it, under 8 is a bit too young for such horrific details. NAzzi's and the fact that they did bad things is different. but holocaust specifics is too much.

I agree with you. When your child is a fairly advanced reader sometimes the actual content isn`t age appropriate.

It talks about the Holocaust, concentration camps, death of children 'like you', fear of death, constant anxiety... I feel this book is wallowing in darkness and sadness. It is not just factual, it is full of emotion and opinion (emotions I also feel and opinions I do share, may I add). Of course every bit of it is true, I just don't want my sensitive innocent 6 year old reading about it just yet! I would love to hear from someone else who might have read this specific book.

THen i suggest you quietly point this out and ask for a different book. Hope you get some joy in changing it.

At DD's school headteacher said that ORT only suitable for infants up to level 9 (end of biff and chip books), after that she moved on to either other schemes or if they are staying on ORT the "all stars" books - level 10 etc but for able infant readers, all books have been suitable for for her (she is 6 and in year 1).

I would make appointment to speak to class teacher to discuss content of books.

My ds got that book when he was aged 6.5. I read it first and decided it wasn't suitable - especially the bits about the holocaust. I spoke to the teacher & made a note in the reading book that I felt it was an unsiutable topic and ds wouldn't be reading it. I find myself making that comment more frequently now - the books are often scary or very, very sad...and we just refuse to read them - the school have accepted it.

I also listen to kids read in the class and quite often the more advanced readers have told me they don't want to read a book because it's to scary or sad and their Mum has written a note...so it's not that unusual.

I agree with you about it being difficult to find suitable reading material if your child is a good reader. However I wouldn't think that an ORT book would be that bad?

My just turned 6 year old likes to look at the bbc KS2 WW2 History pages though so obviously it doesn't upset him!

Helyg, see that's interesting. I wouldn't have a problem with my DS reading those history pages because they are presented in a sensitive manner. The book however, and I'm sure TheStars will agree with me, is dark and oppressive, even for myself as an adult!

I haven't been on the WW2 KS2 history site...but I have taken him to the imperial war museum to see the children's war exhibit - he took much less from it than I did - the tears were tripping me when I read about what the children had been through...I think even in there they don't suggest 6 year olds go into the holocaust area. I think you suggest 8 year old as a minimum.

I do have sensitive boy - he doesn't like to kill things - even flies, he doesn't think it's right, he thinks a lot about stuff.
For me the book was a wake up call, I realised I couldn't trust the school's judgement of what was suitable for him but I realised he is very good at telling me what is suitable and I follow his lead. And even though the school has a policy of insisting every book is read, I pay no attention to it and let him read books we get from the library, funny thing is I have no problem finding age appropriate books for him.

TheStars, what age is he now? I would welcome some suggestions for my DS.

He's nearly 7. He likes to read Flat Stanley, Jeremy Strong, Mr Gum, Cosmo the Witch's Cat, Oliver Moon, Roald Dahl - the slimmer books, like Fantastic Mr Fox, Giraffe, Pelly & Me, Winnie Witch, Horrid Henry, Dirty Birtie, Adventures of Jeremy James, Rainbow Fairies, Beast Quest....and loads of less well known stuff I pick up from the library - he likes magic & fantasy.

Yes, my DS is reading some of those already. he also loves non-fiction. Thanks you for the recommendations, there's a few there I don't know...

I agree with the general consensus -- send the book back with a note explaining that you don't think it's suitable for your DS in particular at this stage and would question whether it's appropriate for 6yo in general.

The higher ORT stages are aimed at KS2 children and are generally not suitable content wise for 6yos. Looks like school have not vetted their reading schemes.

Send it back and speak to the teacher, or send a note.

I appreciate all your answers. I really wanted to make sure I didn't come across as over-precious but you've reassured me about raising this issue.

ds was an advanced reader, but stopped ORT before treetops as we were told they weren't suitable content-wise. He became a free reader instead and got books from the school library with the help of the librarian - lots of girlie books about twins and ponies (the school only had boys up to 7) and things. At home he read just about anything really & it was always a bit of a struggle keeping on top of what was appropriate content-wise, but things like Swallows & Amazons, Enid Blyton, Anne Fine, Dick King Smith, Roald Dahl (not the adult ones) & classics ('5 children & it' type stories) were generally a safe bet.

Interestingly he left that school after reception and was put back on magic key stories in year 1 at his new school and then took it upon himself to read every book in the book cupboard (still read anything & everything from cereal packets/the Beano to Lord of the Rings at home though). So different schools can have very different policies on what to give the same child to read.

This is a common problem especially for good readers who are boys. There is a tempation to think if a child is good at barking at print they can comprehend anything. They need books which are age appriopate and most public libraries have hundreds.

There is no way than any six year old however gifted and talented can comprehend the holocaust or anything to do with Nazi germany. However such a book would be very good for a secondary school child with SEN.

Why don't you ask if your child can read a libary book instead?

Interesting thread. Thanks.

Has anyone come across this problem in reverse? I read at DS school and notice that some of the weaker readers find the lower band books rather babyish. This is 9 year-olds reading books probably aimed at the average 6 year-old reader. The strange thing is some of the children don't seem to mind at all; my fear is that it is ones who are otherwise bright that find the easy books tedious, and then get even more turned off from reading. (and turned on to disruption etc.)

There are definitely reading schemes aimed at those reading below their chronological age. I am just having a completely mind-blank moment right now as to what any of them are.

Some of the struggling children at my school have been reading the "Fuzz-Buzz" books, and really enjoying them. They have fun illustrations and a bit of humour. But it is torment going through them again and again, as the teacher says they have to get them absolutely secure before moving on to the next book. (Teacher is not just being mean, it is a deliberate strategy for kids who've missed the basics and need to get their confidence back) They are all improving gradually, some have really come on a lot.

This is a difficult area for both parents and teachers. My son was stage 12 age 6 and I to found the school gave him totally inappropiate books. I actually had a drunk father beating his wife one book! another was about a boy who was jealous of his friend and tried to kill him! The answer I refused to let him read these books and found 'Beast Quests' instead. From then on untill y1 he read all the Beast Quests and loved them, then came 'Astrosaurs'- loved them. It is only now at age 7.5 yrs that he is reading more compex text stage 16 ORT and gets something out of it.
I agree some children can read well but are not ready for certain text. They will be in time and as a parent I think your'll know when. I don't think it gets any easier though. My son has been reading Tolkin at school reacent and yes he reads it better than me - but my point to the school was he's 7!

I think that the book sounds a bit inappropriate.

I have read a Shirley Hughes story (the Lion and the Unicorn) which deals with the war with my 6 year old but does not dwell on the nastiness of it.

Our school has always understood if books have been returned because they are unsuitable.

I was haunted by some amnesty international literature of my godmothers when I was about 8 and I still remember it now, so I am a bit sensitive about what my children see.