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From: Aline Pereira <aline_at_papertigers.org>
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:37:11 -0700
Three Cups of Tea is an interesting case of a book whose publishing history reflects the universal appeal of its content. Not only there's a young readers' version now, but also a picture book version
of the story (albeit by a different publisher), called "Listen to the
Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea."
The adult book was being picked up by young adults, but I think the publisher felt that a young readers' edition, with more photos and an
interview with Greg Mortenson's 12-year-old daughter, would make it more appealing to the average teen. And indeed it does. I wonder if the same will happen with Greg Mortenson's next book, "Stones into Schools," coming out in December.
Another book that comes to mind in regards to this topic is the Australian Children’s Book Council Picture Book of the Year (2008),
"Requiem for a Beast" by Matt Ottley, a highly sophisticated story that gives voice to the history of Aboriginal Australians. It caused a lot of controversy in Australia because, even though it was aimed at young adults and adults, its "picture book of the year" status led
some bookstores to market it (and parents to buy it) as a picture book for the younger crowd. In my opinion, whereas it's true that the
book can't be easily classified (it mixes four different formats: picture book, graphic novel, novella, and CD), it only takes opening it up to almost any page to find out it's not for little ones. By recognizing the book as "Picture Book of the Year," I think the Australian Book Council has made an important statement about the evolution of picture books: they no longer mean just "little kids' stuff". "The Arrival" by Shaun Tan, given the same award, is another good example of this.
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Aline Pereira Managing Editor, PaperTigers Pacific Rim Voices 300 Third Street, #822 San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 648-4528
PaperTigers - A colorful website devoted to multicultural books from around the world for children and young adults, with a particular focus on the Pacific Rim and South Asia. http://www.papertigers.org
PaperTigers Blog- Speaking of multicultural books for young readers, world literacy, and more... http://www.papertigers.org/wordpress
************************************************
************************************************
Aline Pereira Managing Editor, PaperTigers Pacific Rim Voices 300 Third Street, #822 San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 648-4528
PaperTigers - A colorful website devoted to multicultural books from around the world for children and young adults, with a particular focus on the Pacific Rim and South Asia. http://www.papertigers.org
PaperTigers Blog- Speaking of multicultural books for young readers, world literacy, and more... http://www.papertigers.org/wordpress
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Received on Wed 07 Oct 2009 12:37:11 PM CDT
Date: Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:37:11 -0700
Three Cups of Tea is an interesting case of a book whose publishing history reflects the universal appeal of its content. Not only there's a young readers' version now, but also a picture book version
of the story (albeit by a different publisher), called "Listen to the
Wind: The Story of Dr. Greg and Three Cups of Tea."
The adult book was being picked up by young adults, but I think the publisher felt that a young readers' edition, with more photos and an
interview with Greg Mortenson's 12-year-old daughter, would make it more appealing to the average teen. And indeed it does. I wonder if the same will happen with Greg Mortenson's next book, "Stones into Schools," coming out in December.
Another book that comes to mind in regards to this topic is the Australian Children’s Book Council Picture Book of the Year (2008),
"Requiem for a Beast" by Matt Ottley, a highly sophisticated story that gives voice to the history of Aboriginal Australians. It caused a lot of controversy in Australia because, even though it was aimed at young adults and adults, its "picture book of the year" status led
some bookstores to market it (and parents to buy it) as a picture book for the younger crowd. In my opinion, whereas it's true that the
book can't be easily classified (it mixes four different formats: picture book, graphic novel, novella, and CD), it only takes opening it up to almost any page to find out it's not for little ones. By recognizing the book as "Picture Book of the Year," I think the Australian Book Council has made an important statement about the evolution of picture books: they no longer mean just "little kids' stuff". "The Arrival" by Shaun Tan, given the same award, is another good example of this.
************************************************
Aline Pereira Managing Editor, PaperTigers Pacific Rim Voices 300 Third Street, #822 San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 648-4528
PaperTigers - A colorful website devoted to multicultural books from around the world for children and young adults, with a particular focus on the Pacific Rim and South Asia. http://www.papertigers.org
PaperTigers Blog- Speaking of multicultural books for young readers, world literacy, and more... http://www.papertigers.org/wordpress
************************************************
************************************************
Aline Pereira Managing Editor, PaperTigers Pacific Rim Voices 300 Third Street, #822 San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 648-4528
PaperTigers - A colorful website devoted to multicultural books from around the world for children and young adults, with a particular focus on the Pacific Rim and South Asia. http://www.papertigers.org
PaperTigers Blog- Speaking of multicultural books for young readers, world literacy, and more... http://www.papertigers.org/wordpress
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Received on Wed 07 Oct 2009 12:37:11 PM CDT
