From: Vicki Cobb <vicki.cobb2>
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 08:56:26 -0400

When I reported to this list-serve what I had been told about the new direction in HC publishing, I did not mean to single them out as a target for criticism or to complain about my plight. Over the years I have been well treated by them and the fact is that non-fiction (particularaly in science) has dropped off many publishers' lists. This month (I think) there is an article in Children's Writer about publishing science for children. I was one of the people interviewed for that piece and got a chance to preview the article. A list of publishers for this kind of material was included and I was struck by how short it was. One reason is that kids are doing homework using the internet for their research instead of books. To survive, publishers must go where the market is so I understand and even sympathize with HC's position.

    I do believe, however, that a new market for higher quality books and nonfiction is just now opening up in a big way. That market is classroom libraries. Tony Stead, a leader in teaching literacy with the use of nonfiction books, has done a study of classroom libraries in finds that most are 75% fiction and that the nonfiction in these libraries is geared towards boys. Teachers are finally getting the message that they can teacher reading AND science or social studies simultaneously by reading good nonfiction. Obviously, there is room here for growth. Lerner Books, one of the few publishers still focusing on nonfiction, is responding by putting lots of books into paperback to make them affordable for the classroom.

    There are all kinds of reasons why good books fail to make it in the marketplace. Competition with celebrity books for $$ and attention is only a part of the problem. Vicki Cobb
Received on Wed 13 Jun 2007 07:56:26 AM CDT