From: AlwaysErin at aol.com <AlwaysErin>
Date: Thu, 3 Feb 2000 11:07:48 EST

Nina Lindsay writes:

<< As an adult who spends a lot of time with books, I too enjoy all the
"extra" material at the beginning or ending of a book ... in fact, I usually read it all first, down to the t.p. verso and the jacket designer. However, I never read ANY of it when I was a child, and I always feel disappointed when good information is included in an
"introduction" or "afterword" in a children's book --as appropriate as its placement may be-- because I know this information is likely to be missed by the intended audience. >>

I, too, can't pick up a book without examining copyright page, colophon information, half-title, title, etc.--it's part of the whole book experience to me--but I've got a funny story about children and "extra material." The granddaughter of a dear friend of mine once borrowed from the library a picture book that I had edited. My publisher at the time placed credit information on the copyright page for the editor, designer, manufacturer, etc. Anyway, four-year-old Shayla announced to me one day that she had read one of my books. I asked her how she knew it was mine, and she said she had read it on the copyright page!

I may be prejudiced, but I do find little Shayla rather precocious.

Erin

Erin Murphy, President, Rocky Mountain Book Publishers Association / Erin Murphy Editorial Services and Literary Agency / 1062 Tolani Place, Flagstaff, AZ 86001 / 520R5 56 / fax 520R5$80 / alwayserin at aol.com
Received on Thu 03 Feb 2000 10:07:48 AM CST