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From: Angela Reynolds <areynold>
Date: Thu, 01 Dec 2005 12:27:37 -0400
Many of the books mentioned are popular here in Canada as well. Geronimo Stilton is the big surprise for me, it goes out like crazy (and is even avaialble as an audio book -- what about those--audio series books...). The Dear Canada and Our Canadian Girl books are also quite popular as are Junie B. Jones, Secrets of Droon, and Lizzie McGuire.
I'm always torn when a new series appears - do I spend my limited funds to try a new one, and hope that if it catches on, I already have it, or do I wait until the requests come pouring in? How do others deal with that? A recent example is the Rainbow Fairy books by Daisy Meadows, they haven't caught on yet, but they LOOK like the kind that will. No matter what they've heard, kids do judge a book by the cover.
As for formula series, I remember many years ago fighting to get Goosebumps in a small rural library in the states - the director thought they were no good, no reason to have them. I asked how many copies of the latest Danielle Steele he bought
and soon Goosembumps were available for the many requests. In grad school I did a paper on series-because I too was one of those who thought series were just plain trash and had no purpose, but after doing research and reading much of what has been discussed here, I changed my mind. I also forced myself to read Goosebumps, Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley High, just to see what they were like. My reaction - as I suspected, the books were not incredible: the characters and plots were simple and flat, but kids like them, so I was a changed woman.
Great discussion, great analogies (I especially like the fruits), and an interesting topic!
Angela J. Reynolds, Children's and Young Adult Librarian Annapolis Valley Regional Library 26 Bay Rd. P.O. Box 640 Bridgetown, NS B0S 1C0 CANADA 902-665-2995 fax: 902-665-4899 areynold at nsar.library.ns.ca http://www.valleylibrary.ca
Received on Thu 01 Dec 2005 10:27:37 AM CST
Date: Thu, 01 Dec 2005 12:27:37 -0400
Many of the books mentioned are popular here in Canada as well. Geronimo Stilton is the big surprise for me, it goes out like crazy (and is even avaialble as an audio book -- what about those--audio series books...). The Dear Canada and Our Canadian Girl books are also quite popular as are Junie B. Jones, Secrets of Droon, and Lizzie McGuire.
I'm always torn when a new series appears - do I spend my limited funds to try a new one, and hope that if it catches on, I already have it, or do I wait until the requests come pouring in? How do others deal with that? A recent example is the Rainbow Fairy books by Daisy Meadows, they haven't caught on yet, but they LOOK like the kind that will. No matter what they've heard, kids do judge a book by the cover.
As for formula series, I remember many years ago fighting to get Goosebumps in a small rural library in the states - the director thought they were no good, no reason to have them. I asked how many copies of the latest Danielle Steele he bought
and soon Goosembumps were available for the many requests. In grad school I did a paper on series-because I too was one of those who thought series were just plain trash and had no purpose, but after doing research and reading much of what has been discussed here, I changed my mind. I also forced myself to read Goosebumps, Babysitter's Club and Sweet Valley High, just to see what they were like. My reaction - as I suspected, the books were not incredible: the characters and plots were simple and flat, but kids like them, so I was a changed woman.
Great discussion, great analogies (I especially like the fruits), and an interesting topic!
Angela J. Reynolds, Children's and Young Adult Librarian Annapolis Valley Regional Library 26 Bay Rd. P.O. Box 640 Bridgetown, NS B0S 1C0 CANADA 902-665-2995 fax: 902-665-4899 areynold at nsar.library.ns.ca http://www.valleylibrary.ca
Received on Thu 01 Dec 2005 10:27:37 AM CST
