--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I don't change the language for children…" description: "\"I don't change the language for children books. I don't make the language simpler. I use words that they might have to look up in the dictionary. The b..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/john-boyne-2944_adults_i-don-t-change-the-language-for-children_2655201.jpg" --- # I don't change the language for children books. I don't… ![“I don't change the language for children books. I don't make the language simpler. I use words that they might have to look up in the dictionary. The books are shorter, but there's just not that much difference other than that to be honest. And the funny thing is, I have adult writer friends [to…” quote by John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/john-boyne-2944_adults_i-don-t-change-the-language-for-children_2655201.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/john-boyne-2944_adults_i-don-t-change-the-language-for-children_2655201.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/078/john-boyne-2944_adults_i-don-t-change-the-language-for-children_2655201.jpg) > “I don't change the language for children books. I don't make the language simpler. I use words that they might have to look up in the dictionary. The books are shorter, but there's just not that much difference other than that to be honest. And the funny thing is, I have adult writer friends \[to whom I would say\], "Would you think of writing a children's book?" and they go, "No, God, I wouldn't know how." They're quite intimidated by the concept of it. And when I say to children's books writers, would they write an adult book, they say no because they think they're too good for it.” [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He refuses to simplify language for children's books, believing that challenging vocabulary is valuable for young readers. **In simple terms:** He keeps children's books linguistically rich. Key Takeaway Encourage children to explore new words. Themes education language development literacy Mood thoughtful inspirational Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - classroom instruction - parental reading - book publishing Key Concepts cognitive growth reading motivation Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance challenge and accessibility? - What role does context play in comprehension? A Different Perspective Complex language may discourage some readers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Adults](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/adults/) [Being honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-honest/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Children 's books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-s-books/) [Children book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-book/) [Children'S Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-s-book/) [Children'S Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children-s-books-2/) [Childrens book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/childrens-book/) [Dictionary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dictionary/) [Differences](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/differences/) [Don't change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/don-t-change/) [Funny things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/funny-things/) [Honest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/honest/) [Intimidated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intimidated/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [If you care about being thought credible and intelligent, do not use complex language where simpler language will do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-kahneman/if-you-care-about-being-thought-credible-and-intelligent-do-not-use-2/) [Daniel Kahneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-kahneman/) > [I think that books for young people should have serious and important themes, they shouldn't be trivial. 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But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/i-don-t-buy-into-the-idea-that-an-irish-writer-should-write-about/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“For a moment he considered running across the platform to tell people about the empty seats in the carriage, but he decided not to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/for-a-moment-he-considered-running-across-the-platform-to-tell-people/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [I move between the two: I write an adult novel, and then I write a children's book. I quite enjoy that. It's a nice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-boyne/i-move-between-the-two-i-write-an-adult-novel-and-then-i-write-a/) [John Boyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-boyne/) > [“Pavel is not a doctor any more, Bruno' said Maria quietly. 'But he was. In another life. 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