B&N uses 'Common Sense' to help parents choose books

NEW YORK and SAN FRANCISCO Barnes & Noble announced that it is partnering with Common Sense Media (commonsense.org), a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving families’ experiences with media and entertainment, to help millions of Barnes & Noble customers find age-appropriate books, movies, games and music for their kids.

Barnes & Noble.com has added a “For Parents” section at the top of the page in its online children’s section, which will provide Common Sense Media’s branded "Decider Slider" and age-appropriateness rating for each item selected, whether it’s a book, movie, game, or music offering, as well as Common Sense Media’s “Parents Need to Know” information, which helps parents make a decision quickly based on the most relevant details from the review. The bottom of the page will feature a more complete breakdown of Common Sense Media’s review -- including violent/sexual content, positive/negative messages, and more.

“We know how challenging it can be for parents to make smart choices for their kids,” said William Lynch, president of Barnes & Noble.com. “Adding Common Sense Media ratings and reviews for books, movies, games, and music is our way of making life easier for parents and taking the worry out of making age-appropriate selections for their kids.”