A major museum wanted to make its collection accessible to children. Not dumbed down, but simplified. The distinction matters. Young readers deserve accurate information; they just need it delivered differently.
The project involved gallery guides, activity booklets, and exhibition labels all pitched at different age groups. Each piece needed to balance scholarly accuracy with genuine engagement. A description of an ancient artefact had to be factually correct and interesting to an eight-year-old.
We developed a tiered editing approach. Adult content was adapted rather than rewritten. Key facts stayed; framing changed. Sentences shortened without losing meaning. Technical terms appeared when necessary but never without immediate explanation.
The guides have been in use for two years now. Teachers request them. Parents report children asking to return. The museum extended the relationship beyond the original project.