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[CCBC-Net] celebrity books
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From: Steward, Celeste <csteward>
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:12:58 -0700
"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." --very true, and worthy of further discussion...maybe sometime in the future?
As for the decrease in non-fiction (particularly science) off publisher lists: "One reason is that kids are doing homework using the internet for their research instead of books."--this is an area of serious concern for librarians as well as teachers.
I recently enjoyed Senator Edward Kennedy's "My Senator and Me: a dog's-eye view of Washington, D.C." It's illustrated by one of my favorites, David Small. And, I'm looking forward to Cap Ripken Jr.'s
"The Longest Season," which received some very nice reviews.
I wouldn't write off Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton altogether...they are young and damaged by fame...they may pull it together, you never know.
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 Vicki Cobb Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 5:56 AM To: CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: [CCBC-Net] celebrity books
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
_______________________________________________ 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 Wed 13 Jun 2007 01:12:58 PM CDT
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:12:58 -0700
"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." --very true, and worthy of further discussion...maybe sometime in the future?
As for the decrease in non-fiction (particularly science) off publisher lists: "One reason is that kids are doing homework using the internet for their research instead of books."--this is an area of serious concern for librarians as well as teachers.
I recently enjoyed Senator Edward Kennedy's "My Senator and Me: a dog's-eye view of Washington, D.C." It's illustrated by one of my favorites, David Small. And, I'm looking forward to Cap Ripken Jr.'s
"The Longest Season," which received some very nice reviews.
I wouldn't write off Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton altogether...they are young and damaged by fame...they may pull it together, you never know.
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 Vicki Cobb Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2007 5:56 AM To: CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Subject: [CCBC-Net] celebrity books
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
_______________________________________________ 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 Wed 13 Jun 2007 01:12:58 PM CDT
