From: Nina Lindsay <linds_na>
Date: Wed, 9 Jun 1999 11:24:37 -0700 (PDT)

KT, thanks for reminding us about Tom Feeling's THE MIDDLE PASSAGE. It is a tremedous visual story that speaks to children and adults alike. It is a curious marketing example though... I think of it as marketed mostly for adults. I think librarians have picked it up because they know Feelings ... but the size of the book (VERY long), and its price ($40? approx.) gear it towards the art-book crowd. I'd be reluctant to buy it for my children's section because it would fall off the shelf, and because it costs so much (high loss rate here).

An older title that occured to me as a possible "crossover" is Randall Jarrell's THE BAT POET. I occasionally find this in the adult poetry sections in bookstores (although this may be due to carelessness, rather than purpose, of the clerks), and enjoys popularity with Jarrell's adult fans. Does anyone know the publishing history of this title?

The mention of GULLIVER'S TRAVELS and MISTRESS MASHAM'S REPOSE makes me then think of White's THE SWORD IN THE STONE (maybe someone already mentioned this one)? An interesting case since it is "pulled-out" of a larger work (THE ONCE AND FUTURE KING) which is generally not marketed for children in its voluminous entirety.

Nina


Nina Lindsay, Children's Librarian Melrose Branch, Oakland Public Library 4805 Foothill Boulevard Oakland, CA 94601
(510)535V23 linds_na at oak2.ci.oakland.ca.us
Received on Wed 09 Jun 1999 01:24:37 PM CDT