Spring 2002 Children's Books

Edited by Diane Roback and Jason Britton -- Publishers Weekly, 2/11/2002

On this page you'll see covers from some of the highlights of what looks to be a very promising spring season. Fiction remains hot, following the continuing success of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials trilogy, and several other acclaimed British authors will be crossing the pond with their new novels. Many favorite illustrators return this season with new works, and there are some noteworthy debuts as well.

In this issue, we offer two features that set out to explore areas of the industry where misconceptions may be lurking. We excerpt from Marc Aronson's new book, Exploding the Myths: The Truth About Teenagers and Reading, and provide additional data and statistics about what teens like to read. We also address head-on the anxiety that many bookstore staffers feel when asked to work in the children's department , and give tips to make it easier.

Our interview is with Coretta Scott King Award winner Jacqueline Woodson, whose 15th book and first child are both due this spring. Woodson shares her thoughts about writing, family, hope and belonging.

And as usual, we have our full roster of spring listings and a sneak peek ahead at what fall has in store. Happy reading!

Children's Articles in This Issue:

• Coming of Age
  One editor's view of how young adult publishing developed in America
• Thrills and Chills
  Confronting bookseller fears that the children's department is a scary place to work
• Jacqueline Woodson: From Outsider to Insider
  The YA author talks about writing, family and the publication of her 15th book
• Children's Spring Announcements
  A comprehensive listing of publishers' spring lists, posted alphabetically, by publisher
• Sneak Previews
  A look ahead at highlights for the fall