PG Children's Books; Give Ratings to Warn of Sex Stories, Says Expert

Beginning of article

Byline: SARAH HARRIS

CHILDREN'S books should carry age ratings on their covers to protect vulnerable young readers from explicit content, a teachers' leader said yesterday.

Dr Rona Tutt believes the measure is needed because growing numbers of children's authors are tackling 'adult' themes such as suicide, murder and sex as they aim for the older market.

Dr Tutt, a national officer and former president of the National Association of Head Teachers, said parents would benefit from film-style guidelines to prevent their youngsters picking up unsuitable material.

The former headmistress of Woolgrove School, a special school for four to 12-yearolds in Letchworth, Hertfordshire, said: 'We are in new territory now.

There was a tradition when children's books had what could be called "children's themes" and …