From: Steven Engelfried <sengelfried>
Date: Thu, 7 Oct 2004 11:28:53 -0700 (PDT)

I'm especially interested in how "word of mouth" works with kids. I know "Because of Winn-Dixie" got great reviews and a Newbery Honor Award, but I was (pleasantly) surprised at how many kids knew about that book right away and wanted to read it so soon.
  "Holes" already had a strong following with kids even before the Newbery. I remember booktalking "Captain Underpants" when it first came out, but finding out that too many kids already knew about it within just a few months...Same thing with
"Spiderwi ck Chronicles." Is it the bookish adults: teachers, librarians, parents, and booksellers, who are sharing books like this and generating word of mouth? Is it corporate marketing? Or is it actually going from kid to kid? Much as I want to believe (and
 do believe) that we grown ups can successfully champion excellent books to kids, I also love the idea that kids identify them on their own and spread the word to each other. Do you think this happens much?
 
- Steven Engelfried, Beaverton City Library
  12375 SW 5th Street
  Beaverton, OR 970015
  503R6%99
  sengelfried at yahoo.com



                
--------------------------------Do you Yahoo!? vote.yahoo.com - Register online to vote today!
Received on Thu 07 Oct 2004 01:28:53 PM CDT