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[CCBC-Net] writing quality of celebrity books
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From: Steward, Celeste <csteward>
Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2007 10:35:11 -0700
While I found Leda and Jim's post most interesting from a collection development standpoint, the short answer here is, yes, I buy celebrity books for my library because people generally look for them and check them out. Whether this is from curiosity or because the book is that good depends. Unless a celebrity book gets a terrible review, I need to buy some copies. Someone, either a child or most likely, a parent will request it.
As Jim said, public librarians "really can't ignore that push" for reluctant readers who might not otherwise come to the library to check out materials. If the particular celebrity book makes the connection, this is fine by me. Our job is to promote reading and literacy. Sometimes it means we pay a little homage to popular culture. Forgive me, but I don't have a problem with it. Many libraries are riding on the publishing industry's considerable hype and commercialism for HP, are we not??? J.K. Rowling is certainly a celebrity in her own right.
Then again, there are some celebrities, such as Jamie Lee Curtis and Julie Andrews, who are simply a class act. No matter what they do, it will be worth reading, hearing, or watching.
Personally, I believe there are just as many (if not more) folks who look for quality children's books. There's always room for more children's writers. Furthermore, some celebrities have written and will continue to write quality books for kids. Henry Winkler's Hank Zipzer series is quite popular and it's pretty good too. Mikhail Baryshnikov's new picture book recently received a starred review. And I enjoyed Alan Zweibel's Our Tree Named Steve. Rhea Perlman's Otto Undercover series is moving off the shelves like gangbusters.
In terms of popular culture, Leda raises some good points about heroes. Should libraries ignore popular culture? I think this would be very unwise. Public libraries provide quality books and popular materials too. Is quality separate from popular? Can they not intersect at times?
We want people coming through our doors and more importantly, we want them to read.
What is it that's so disturbing about celebrities writing for kids??? Will they make more money than those dedicated (and to my great delight, posting here!) authors who have always (thank god) written for children? Maybe, but, so what? BTW, librarians aren't exactly living in mansions either. Is it because we feel celebrities might be using their fame as an easy ticket into the publishing world? They might be but it's not a given. Or, are they simply thinking outside the box and wishing to realize a lifelong dream to write for kids by using their credentials to get past the editors? Can't blame them there--who wants to collect rejection letters? Is a writer's background important at all? Possibly. Or, should we just evaluate a book based on its own merit?
And having said all this, I still hesitate when I see a new title by a celebrity. As a librarian, I naturally question the sincerity of the entertainer/athlete/famous person turned children's writer. As a collection development librarian, I sometimes have to ignore my own filter to buy materials that really turn me off, such as Madonna's and Ahmet Zappa's books. I might add that these two authors' works are not circulating all that well in my library system.
Celeste Steward, Collection Development Librarian Alameda County Library 2450 Stevenson Blvd. Fremont, CA 94538
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of L. Brown
/ M. Regenold Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 4:46 PM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: [CCBC-Net] writing quality of celebrity books [**JUNKMAIL WARNING**][text]
As a student in the Vermont College MFA program in writing for children,
last semester I analyzed several celebrity-written picture books and wrote a snarky essay about them, which I posted on my blog: http://iowakid.blogspot.com/2006/11/how-to-write-picture-book-guide-for. html
Last fall at a children's writer conference I asked a HarperCollins editor why his house publishes celebrity-written books, which he admitted aren't the world's greatest literature. He answered as expected--to make money. The theory is that a few PBs that do really well will help support his buying other, "smaller" books that he's really excited about but that don't have a huge market.
How do librarians respond to celebrity authors? Are you more apt to purchase such books because you think parents will ask for them?
Just curious.
Michele Regenold
_______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Fri 08 Jun 2007 12:35:11 PM CDT
Date: Fri, 8 Jun 2007 10:35:11 -0700
While I found Leda and Jim's post most interesting from a collection development standpoint, the short answer here is, yes, I buy celebrity books for my library because people generally look for them and check them out. Whether this is from curiosity or because the book is that good depends. Unless a celebrity book gets a terrible review, I need to buy some copies. Someone, either a child or most likely, a parent will request it.
As Jim said, public librarians "really can't ignore that push" for reluctant readers who might not otherwise come to the library to check out materials. If the particular celebrity book makes the connection, this is fine by me. Our job is to promote reading and literacy. Sometimes it means we pay a little homage to popular culture. Forgive me, but I don't have a problem with it. Many libraries are riding on the publishing industry's considerable hype and commercialism for HP, are we not??? J.K. Rowling is certainly a celebrity in her own right.
Then again, there are some celebrities, such as Jamie Lee Curtis and Julie Andrews, who are simply a class act. No matter what they do, it will be worth reading, hearing, or watching.
Personally, I believe there are just as many (if not more) folks who look for quality children's books. There's always room for more children's writers. Furthermore, some celebrities have written and will continue to write quality books for kids. Henry Winkler's Hank Zipzer series is quite popular and it's pretty good too. Mikhail Baryshnikov's new picture book recently received a starred review. And I enjoyed Alan Zweibel's Our Tree Named Steve. Rhea Perlman's Otto Undercover series is moving off the shelves like gangbusters.
In terms of popular culture, Leda raises some good points about heroes. Should libraries ignore popular culture? I think this would be very unwise. Public libraries provide quality books and popular materials too. Is quality separate from popular? Can they not intersect at times?
We want people coming through our doors and more importantly, we want them to read.
What is it that's so disturbing about celebrities writing for kids??? Will they make more money than those dedicated (and to my great delight, posting here!) authors who have always (thank god) written for children? Maybe, but, so what? BTW, librarians aren't exactly living in mansions either. Is it because we feel celebrities might be using their fame as an easy ticket into the publishing world? They might be but it's not a given. Or, are they simply thinking outside the box and wishing to realize a lifelong dream to write for kids by using their credentials to get past the editors? Can't blame them there--who wants to collect rejection letters? Is a writer's background important at all? Possibly. Or, should we just evaluate a book based on its own merit?
And having said all this, I still hesitate when I see a new title by a celebrity. As a librarian, I naturally question the sincerity of the entertainer/athlete/famous person turned children's writer. As a collection development librarian, I sometimes have to ignore my own filter to buy materials that really turn me off, such as Madonna's and Ahmet Zappa's books. I might add that these two authors' works are not circulating all that well in my library system.
Celeste Steward, Collection Development Librarian Alameda County Library 2450 Stevenson Blvd. Fremont, CA 94538
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
[mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of L. Brown
/ M. Regenold Sent: Thursday, June 07, 2007 4:46 PM To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: [CCBC-Net] writing quality of celebrity books [**JUNKMAIL WARNING**][text]
As a student in the Vermont College MFA program in writing for children,
last semester I analyzed several celebrity-written picture books and wrote a snarky essay about them, which I posted on my blog: http://iowakid.blogspot.com/2006/11/how-to-write-picture-book-guide-for. html
Last fall at a children's writer conference I asked a HarperCollins editor why his house publishes celebrity-written books, which he admitted aren't the world's greatest literature. He answered as expected--to make money. The theory is that a few PBs that do really well will help support his buying other, "smaller" books that he's really excited about but that don't have a huge market.
How do librarians respond to celebrity authors? Are you more apt to purchase such books because you think parents will ask for them?
Just curious.
Michele Regenold
_______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Fri 08 Jun 2007 12:35:11 PM CDT
