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Writer's Room => Picture Books (PB) => Topic started by: Katrina Tangen on November 17, 2020, 10:28 PM

Title: Age range in PB queries?
Post by: Katrina Tangen on November 17, 2020, 10:28 PM

Are you supposed to specify the age range in picture book queries or is that optional? I’m having trouble figuring out the sub-age ranges. Are the most common 3-6 and 4-8? I know there must be an article somewhere that breaks this down, but it’s surprisingly hard to google it!

Thanks!
Katrina

Title: Re: Age range in PB queries?
Post by: JodyJS on November 18, 2020, 05:00 AM

Hi KatrinaT,

In general, PBs go from 2-8, with the most common range being 4-8. If you're uncomfortable indicating where yours falls, maybe describe it as "for a younger/older picture book audience."

Good luck!

Title: Re: Age range in PB queries?
Post by: dkshumaker on November 18, 2020, 06:23 AM

I feel like most publishers use the 4-8 range as a target for PBs. The exception is a lot of PB bios seem to focus on slightly higher target range, more like upper elementary. So 6 - 10?

Title: Re: Age range in PB queries?
Post by: Katrina Tangen on November 18, 2020, 07:04 AM

Ok, that’s what I was thinking—4-8 as default, 3-6 if it skews younger. And then the older nonfiction set.

Thanks for the help!

Title: Re: Age range in PB queries?
Post by: JulieM on November 18, 2020, 02:00 PM

As above, but I've also noticed some publishers categorize their book lists according to age, so when this happens I say where my manuscript fits into their categories.
It is so flexible - children and their reading capabilities are not "one size fits all", are they!

Title: Re: Age range in PB queries?
Post by: Vijaya on November 18, 2020, 03:15 PM

when i query, i don't specify the age but a general range as jody describes and i typically have three categories, baby/toddler, younger, older pb readers. and of course, the best pbs are for grownups too.

Title: Re: Age range in PB queries?
Post by: Katrina Tangen on November 28, 2020, 10:47 AM

Thanks!

Title: Re: Age range in PB queries?
Post by: HaroldU on November 30, 2020, 04:07 PM

IMO the picture book range breaks down into a number of possible age ranges: As examples, 2-4 for concept books for the very young, 3-5 for simple PBs and bed-time books, 4-6 for "classic" picture books, 5-7 for PBs with school settings.... One handy trick is to look on Amazon for books similar to yours in themes and complexity of story and vocabulary, and see what age range they give there.

Title: Re: Age range in PB queries?
Post by: Katrina Tangen on November 30, 2020, 04:31 PM

Thanks, Harold, that’s really helpful—just what I was looking for!