CCBC-Net Archives
Book Covers
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Brenda Lemon <blemon_at_473mail.net>
Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:34:45 -0600
The vast number of high school students in my library don't really make a big deal about the book covers. What sells a book the most in the library is word of mouth.
However, there are some covers that make them frown a little before they check them out....maybe even hesitate to pick them up. These titles tend to be ones deemed "childish" or too cartoonish book covers. Looks are important to them and they worry constantly how others will perceive them. They don't want to be seen reading a book with a cover that makes it looked like it's a middle school or grade school book. They want to be seen with a book cover that makes it look like they are reading something adult or mature.
The other issue that I see is that often, if the book cover has a picture of a girl or boy who is not in style anymore, they won't pick them up. Hair and clothing styles change quickly. I think this is one of the reason's why you don't see publishers showing the characters faces. Hairstyles go out of style pretty quickly. It also could be why they use the style of dress or why many characters are cloaked in fog.
The trend that I see happening is how quickly they change. It seems like just one cover won't do anymore. Especially if the book becomes popular. I wonder how many people purchase a book thinking it is a new one in a series only to realize the book is not new, just the cover. (and some of the really sneaky ones will even change the title of the book)
Brenda Lemon District Librarian Chapman School District Chapman Kansas blemon_at_473mail.net
Received on Thu 09 Feb 2012 02:34:45 PM CST
Date: Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:34:45 -0600
The vast number of high school students in my library don't really make a big deal about the book covers. What sells a book the most in the library is word of mouth.
However, there are some covers that make them frown a little before they check them out....maybe even hesitate to pick them up. These titles tend to be ones deemed "childish" or too cartoonish book covers. Looks are important to them and they worry constantly how others will perceive them. They don't want to be seen reading a book with a cover that makes it looked like it's a middle school or grade school book. They want to be seen with a book cover that makes it look like they are reading something adult or mature.
The other issue that I see is that often, if the book cover has a picture of a girl or boy who is not in style anymore, they won't pick them up. Hair and clothing styles change quickly. I think this is one of the reason's why you don't see publishers showing the characters faces. Hairstyles go out of style pretty quickly. It also could be why they use the style of dress or why many characters are cloaked in fog.
The trend that I see happening is how quickly they change. It seems like just one cover won't do anymore. Especially if the book becomes popular. I wonder how many people purchase a book thinking it is a new one in a series only to realize the book is not new, just the cover. (and some of the really sneaky ones will even change the title of the book)
Brenda Lemon District Librarian Chapman School District Chapman Kansas blemon_at_473mail.net
Received on Thu 09 Feb 2012 02:34:45 PM CST
