Most books reach your child's shelf. A few do not, for one of three reasons: our automatic checks stopped the story or a picture, something went wrong while we were making the book, or a check was unsure and a person needs to read the book first. In the first two cases the books it used come back to you automatically.
What each status means
Every book your child has made is listed, newest first, under Readers, then your child, then Books. Each one carries a status:
| Status | What it means | The books it used |
|---|---|---|
| "Being made" | We are still making it. | Taken when it started |
| "Being checked" | A person is reading it before it goes any further. | Held while it waits |
| "Not made" | Our checks stopped the story or one of its pictures. | Given back automatically, if our automatic checks stopped it |
| "Did not finish" | Something went wrong while we were making it, or it did not reach the standard we hold books to. | Given back automatically |
| "Ready" | It is finished and on your child's shelf. | Used |
| "Put away" | It is finished, and you put it away or told us about a problem with it. | Used, unless we gave them back after your report |
What happens to the books it used
A book takes its books the moment it starts, not when it finishes. That is what stops more books being started than you have. When our automatic checks stop a book, or it cannot be finished, what it used is given back straight away, and you do not need to ask:
- Books from your monthly allowance go back into your monthly count.
- Books you bought come back to your balance, and the history on Plan and books shows the entry as "Book refunded".
A book that is "Being checked" is different. The books it used stay with it while a person reads it, rather than being given back. Refunds covers every way books and money come back.
What your child sees
Your child is never told why a book was stopped.
- When a book is stopped or cannot be finished, the waiting screen says "Let's try a different idea for this one." and "Nothing was used up. You can make another whenever you like." It offers "Try again", and sometimes "Read one now", which opens a book from the shared library that a person has already read and approved.
- When a person needs to read the book first, the screen says "Someone is having a quick look at this one." and "It will turn up in your books if it is all right."
The emails we send
- "We could not finish [title]." We stopped partway through making the book, either because something went wrong at our end or because the story did not pass the checks we run before a child sees anything. When the books it used have been given back, the email says so.
- "[title] is being checked." One of us will read the book before it goes any further. The email says this usually takes a few hours.
If you have a question about a book that is "Being checked", including what happens to the books it used, or about one that did not finish, ask us through Help in your dashboard and choose "The reading level, or how a book turned out".
Asking us to look again
Our checks are not perfect, and a book they stopped can be one that was fine for your child. If a book shows "Not made" and you think the check was wrong:
- Go to Readers, then your child, then Books. A stopped book that was started in the last 14 days also appears under "Needs your attention" on your Home page.
- Press "Ask us to look again" beside the book.
- Write a sentence saying why you think it was wrong, then press "Send".
The button is replaced by "Somebody is looking at this again." A person reads the book, and we email you with the answer either way:
- "[title] is back" means we agree the check got it wrong, and the book is back on your child's shelf.
- "We looked at [title] again" means a person has read it and decided to leave it as it is. The email includes a note from them explaining why.
If the answer still does not seem right, or a book that came back does not look finished, tell us through Help. The same goes for a "Not made" book where pressing "Send" says there is nothing to look at again.
"Ask us to look again" is only offered for books that show "Not made". A book that shows "Did not finish" was not stopped by our safety checks. Your child can make another, and the books it used have already been given back.