Oxford professor guides MLCU participants on cognitive skills in children’s books

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaAugust 23, 2025

Martin Luther Christian University Press (MLCU Press), in collaboration with the Academic Office, organised a Book Levelling Workshop at the MLCU campus on August 22, 2025. The workshop was facilitated by Dr Sonali Nag, Professor at the University of Oxford and Education Fellow at Brasenose College.

Dr Nag introduced participants to the practice of book levelling, which evaluates children’s books based on the cognitive skills they demand from readers—such as memory, comprehension, attention, and the ability to connect words with illustrations. She explained that levelling goes beyond emotional engagement, focusing instead on what a book requires of a reader.

Through interactive discussions, participants reflected on their own reading journeys and examined how storybooks differ across age groups. Dr Nag demonstrated how illustrations guide a child’s focus—whether towards external events or the internal emotions of characters—and how this shapes the way children retell stories. She shared research showing that even young children respond to illustrations of feelings and thoughts, though adults often underestimate this ability.

She also highlighted the role of vocabulary in levelling. While some words may appear difficult, children often learn their meaning through repetition, context, and supportive conversations between adults and children—what researchers call “extra-textual talk.” This scaffolding can even shift a book’s level, making complex texts more accessible.

The programme began with a welcome address by Dr Minorita Lyngdoh and concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr Ibasaralyne Synthiang. Participants included children’s book illustrators, authors, students from North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), MLCU faculty members, and representatives from the Sauramandala Foundation, reaffirming MLCU’s commitment to children’s literature and publishing.