Movie studios target children with study packs

Hollywood studios are targeting children as young as five in an effort to drum up business for their latest movies.

Study packs for children of all ages learning literacy, art and social studies have been produced, drawing on releases such as Steven Spielberg's forthcoming adaptation of The War of the Worlds, and circulated free to tens of thousands of British schools.

Critics have urged teachers to shun the packs, and dismissed them as a crude marketing device to sell cinema tickets. "Teachers should put these packs in the bin," said Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education.

Even some members of the film industry are sceptical about the publicity methods. Julian Fellowe, the writer of the film Gosford Park, said: "I think this is part and parcel of the policies that have betrayed a generation. The best way to learn literacy is to read a book."