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[CCBC-Net] Criss Cross
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From: Robin Smith <smithr>
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 10:56:50 -0600
Dear Meghan, I, too, worked at a large chain bookstore for years and we rarely carried more than one copy of any YA or intermediate fiction, unless it was by an established author, say a Louis Sachar or Ann Martin. And even with those last two authors, we would rarely have more than three copies. And, unless the book made some noise for some reason, we would sell through those 2-3 copies without replacing them. So, we would never have the Newbery winners three weeks into January. Most people who follow such things understand how the big chains work and realized that they will frantically look for the award winners, but expect to order them and wait a bit. This is especially true when a winning book is published late in the year. Multiply the effect by ten when the author is lesser known at the time. (Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons pops to mind)
I had read lots of reviews of Criss Cross and grabbed a copy some months ago. I loved it so much that it jumped to the top of my favorites list. I was able to suggest it to my friends and their children and I was happy happy happy that this tremendous book would get into the hands of children. And, since readers might have to wait a bit, they might read the companion book, All Alone in the Universe, which I liked just as much. (I read it and heard it on tape--both equally satisfying)
As luck would have it, at the very time you were all glued to the webcast, I was having some surgery. My husband had received the ALA information in spurts from our friend and fellow book addict Ann, via cellphone in the waiting room. When I was coming out of the anesthesia, the first thing I asked was, "Who won the awards?" Dean said, "Criss Cross won the Newbery Award." He waited to finish the list because it took a few moments for the title to permeate the haze. I can't remember what I said, but I do remember thinking--"a perfect choice." For those of you who have to wait to read it, start with All Alone in the Universe and enjoy the anticipation!
So, though I always have lists of personal favorites, I always am thrilled to hear the winners. Usually it means I have a little reading to do--a happy happy task.
Robin Smith The Ensworth School Nashville, TN
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu on behalf of Meghan McCarthy Sent: Fri 1/27/2006 10:30 AM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] Criss Cross
I did in fact notice that Criss Cross got starred reviews, etc. What I was trying to say is that the Caldecott winners are more obvious to the average public... more widely recognized. The author and illustrator of the The Hello, Goodbye Window have been in the mainstream media plenty. The buying public doesn't read the School Library Journal and has probably never heard of it. Ask any shopper if they've heard of Chris Raschka or at least recognizes his work and they'll say "yes." Ask them if they've heard of Lynne Rae Perkins and they'll say "no." I'm pretty in tune with the average public since I've worked at a bookstore for about 5 years.
Every year since I've started working at B&N the same thing happens. We always have the Caldecott pick in stock or at least DID carry it at some point but never the Newbery. When I tell my coworkers the winners, who don't pay any attention to the industry like I do, they say "Oh, that one," to the Caldecott and they say
"What book?" to the Newbery. IF the Newbery pick got written up in major newspapers or magazines, rest assured B&N would carry the book. IF the Newbery book got pushed by its publisher and got a large marketing campaign it would be carried at B&N. After all, the chain's bottom line is making money.
What I am not saying is that the Caldecott picks are the most popular books out there. I sincerely doubt that a book like WALTER THE FARTING DOG will ever end up on the honor list. I also wasn't saying that this is a cold hard fact and that this happens EVERY SINGLE TIME. But I was saying that more often than not, the Caldecott winner is more known to the average person ahead of time than the Newbery... at least in recent years.
I was just making an observation! That's all! I'm going back to lurkdome now....
meghan author/illustrator/bookseller/who is trying not to be a trouble maker but likes to start conversation
--- Kathleen Horning <horning at education.wisc.edu> wrote:
> I think your observation perhaps says more about
> Barnes & Noble and the
> other large chain book stores than it does about the
> award books.
> "Criss Cross" got starred reviews in just about
> every professional
> journal, and was on several of the annual best books
> lists, including
> SLJ, Kirkus, Horn Book Fanfare, and the Book Sense
> Picks from the
> Independent Booksellers Association. Anyone who was
> surprised that it
> won the Newbery Medal has not been paying
> attention.
>
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Received on Fri 27 Jan 2006 10:56:50 AM CST
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2006 10:56:50 -0600
Dear Meghan, I, too, worked at a large chain bookstore for years and we rarely carried more than one copy of any YA or intermediate fiction, unless it was by an established author, say a Louis Sachar or Ann Martin. And even with those last two authors, we would rarely have more than three copies. And, unless the book made some noise for some reason, we would sell through those 2-3 copies without replacing them. So, we would never have the Newbery winners three weeks into January. Most people who follow such things understand how the big chains work and realized that they will frantically look for the award winners, but expect to order them and wait a bit. This is especially true when a winning book is published late in the year. Multiply the effect by ten when the author is lesser known at the time. (Sharon Creech's Walk Two Moons pops to mind)
I had read lots of reviews of Criss Cross and grabbed a copy some months ago. I loved it so much that it jumped to the top of my favorites list. I was able to suggest it to my friends and their children and I was happy happy happy that this tremendous book would get into the hands of children. And, since readers might have to wait a bit, they might read the companion book, All Alone in the Universe, which I liked just as much. (I read it and heard it on tape--both equally satisfying)
As luck would have it, at the very time you were all glued to the webcast, I was having some surgery. My husband had received the ALA information in spurts from our friend and fellow book addict Ann, via cellphone in the waiting room. When I was coming out of the anesthesia, the first thing I asked was, "Who won the awards?" Dean said, "Criss Cross won the Newbery Award." He waited to finish the list because it took a few moments for the title to permeate the haze. I can't remember what I said, but I do remember thinking--"a perfect choice." For those of you who have to wait to read it, start with All Alone in the Universe and enjoy the anticipation!
So, though I always have lists of personal favorites, I always am thrilled to hear the winners. Usually it means I have a little reading to do--a happy happy task.
Robin Smith The Ensworth School Nashville, TN
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu on behalf of Meghan McCarthy Sent: Fri 1/27/2006 10:30 AM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] Criss Cross
I did in fact notice that Criss Cross got starred reviews, etc. What I was trying to say is that the Caldecott winners are more obvious to the average public... more widely recognized. The author and illustrator of the The Hello, Goodbye Window have been in the mainstream media plenty. The buying public doesn't read the School Library Journal and has probably never heard of it. Ask any shopper if they've heard of Chris Raschka or at least recognizes his work and they'll say "yes." Ask them if they've heard of Lynne Rae Perkins and they'll say "no." I'm pretty in tune with the average public since I've worked at a bookstore for about 5 years.
Every year since I've started working at B&N the same thing happens. We always have the Caldecott pick in stock or at least DID carry it at some point but never the Newbery. When I tell my coworkers the winners, who don't pay any attention to the industry like I do, they say "Oh, that one," to the Caldecott and they say
"What book?" to the Newbery. IF the Newbery pick got written up in major newspapers or magazines, rest assured B&N would carry the book. IF the Newbery book got pushed by its publisher and got a large marketing campaign it would be carried at B&N. After all, the chain's bottom line is making money.
What I am not saying is that the Caldecott picks are the most popular books out there. I sincerely doubt that a book like WALTER THE FARTING DOG will ever end up on the honor list. I also wasn't saying that this is a cold hard fact and that this happens EVERY SINGLE TIME. But I was saying that more often than not, the Caldecott winner is more known to the average person ahead of time than the Newbery... at least in recent years.
I was just making an observation! That's all! I'm going back to lurkdome now....
meghan author/illustrator/bookseller/who is trying not to be a trouble maker but likes to start conversation
--- Kathleen Horning <horning at education.wisc.edu> wrote:
> I think your observation perhaps says more about
> Barnes & Noble and the
> other large chain book stores than it does about the
> award books.
> "Criss Cross" got starred reviews in just about
> every professional
> journal, and was on several of the annual best books
> lists, including
> SLJ, Kirkus, Horn Book Fanfare, and the Book Sense
> Picks from the
> Independent Booksellers Association. Anyone who was
> surprised that it
> won the Newbery Medal has not been paying
> attention.
>
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Received on Fri 27 Jan 2006 10:56:50 AM CST
