From: Susan Greenberg <sigst+>
Date: Thu, 07 Sep 2000 10:36:13 -0400

Best seller lists, in and of themselves, don't speak to the quality of the books but to other more commercial factors--the recognizability of the authors, the subject, the dollars spent on advertising. Parents,
"professionals" in their own field (rearing children), want to know more about a book for their children than how many copies it sold.

Relatively recently, the local newspaper in my area, the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, has carried a regular column reviewing literature for children. Unless I've missed it, they print no "best seller list". The column is usually theme?signed, and the writer is a respected member of the professional community. I believe that columns like these, which tantalize the appetite for children's books, will have a greater impact, in the long run, on the selection process than any list.

Children old enough to select their own literature, or who have the guidance of an enthusiastic and knowledgeable school librarian, will be making their choices based upon more personal factors than a best-seller list. And, of course, they are influenced by what their friends are reading.

I guess for local newspapers to consider a "children's literature" column in addition to their regular adult book reviews, they would have to believe that their readers really want it. How many of you have taken the time to write to the editor of the newspaper to express your interest? It would be interesting to see what happens.

Susan Greenberg Doctoral Candidate, Reading Education University of Pittsburgh School of Education
Received on Thu 07 Sep 2000 09:36:13 AM CDT