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Common Sense Raises Issues at B&N
When Barnes & Noble announced earlier this month that it was going to add Common Sense Media's ratings of children's books, movies, games, and music on its Web site, few gave it much thought. After all, the book retailer already includes customer reviews, reader ratings, and editorial reviews such as those that appear in Publishers Weekly. But ever since YA author Sarah Dessen raised the subject of Common Sense's ratings on her blog last Thursday, the blogosphere has started to light up.
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In Brief: February 18
This week, Emily Windsnap tops one million copies sold, Mo Willems tries his hand as a guest cartoonist, an angel visits Times Square, and more.
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In Brief: February 18
This week, a British author comes across the pond for her first book, and goes on a cross-country pre-pub tour.
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Yaged to Leave Disney
Jonathan Yaged, v-p and U.S. publisher of the Disney Book Group, has been named chief operating officer of House Party, a consumer activation and experiential marketing company. Yaged has been with Disney since 2000, when he joined as director of business affairs.
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Children's Books: The Art of Mentoring
We spoke with a variety of children's book publishers, editors, publicists, rights directors, art directors, and marketers, and asked them to tell us about those who made a difference to them, early on in their careers.
Betsy Groban, senior v-p and publisher, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group
John Keller was head of children's books at Little, Brown, back when we were celebrating its 150th year on Beacon Hill, and "twilight" was just a lovely time of day. I was thrilled when he hired me as library services manager, and we began a professional and personal relationship that has lasted over 30 years. John taught me nearly everything I know about publishing books for children, and even more about how to live both an honorable life and a life of the mind. -
PEN Panel Tracks Authors Who 'Made It'
In any discussion on how to be a children's book author, questions naturally focus on the beginning of the journey — how to get started, how to get an agent, how to get published. Rarer is a focus on what it takes to be successful after that first book. That was exactly what author and editor David Levithan and his fellow panelists were challenged to explore at a panel discussion in New York City this past Monday...
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On the Move in Children's Publishing
People announcements in the children's book world.
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Kirkus Children's Reviews Back on Track
On hearing the news of the sale, and rebirth, of Kirkus Reviews, we spoke with children's and YA editor Vicky Smith, about moving forward. She said she has hardly skipped a beat, in terms of scheduling reviews. "When the interested buyers presented themselves," Smith said, "I just went straight back to work and assigned as if there had been no absence." She gives much credit to her core group of "incredibly dedicated and wonderful" reviewers. "I'm incredibly grateful to them," she said.
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'Mockingjay' to Conclude the Hunger Games Trilogy
Anticipation — and speculation — have been building ever since fans closed the page on the cliffhanger ending of Catching Fire, the second in Suzanne Collins's bestselling Hunger Games trilogy. What will happen in book three? And what will it be called? Though the plot twists are top-secret, the book's title and cover have just been revealed by Scholastic. Mockingjay will have a one-day laydown date of August 24, 2010, and a first printing of 750,000 copies...
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Obituary: Michael Cavanaugh
Michael Cavanaugh, former children’s buyer at Barnes & Noble, died unexpectedly last weekend. He joined B&N in the early 1980s after working at Eeyore's Books for Children, and continued to buy for the chain following the acquisition of B. Dalton and the growth of B&N Junior. A gathering of friends will take place on Monday, March 1, at the Hourglass Tavern...
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Q & A with Jeanne McDermott
After 25 years in children's book marketing, Jeanne McDermott is leaving publishing to pursue a master's degree in library science.
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YA Panel with Black, Clare and Link to Benefit Hospital
A trio of YA authors will celebrate the publication of Holly Black's The Poison Eaters: and Other Stories, the first original fiction collection from Big Mouth House, the children's publishing arm of Small Beer Press. A portion of the $5 ticket price as well as of book sales will be donated to the the Franciscan Hospital for Children in Brighton, Mass., where the 11-month-old daughter of press founders Link and Gavin Grant is being cared for on the pulmonary ward....
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Immedium Expands Its Offerings Online
When Oliver Chin—an author who previously worked for several book publishers—decided to start his own small press in 2005, he mashed up the words “medium” and “immediate” and launched Immedium in San Francisco. “Our goal is to publish books that get positive first impressions and great reactions from readers,” Chin said.
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Bray Lands Major Deal at Little, Brown
Libba Bray, hot off her Printz win for Going Bovine, has landed a major book deal at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Bray's agent-husband, Barry Goldblatt, sold North American rights, in an auction featuring six houses, to a new YA series called The Diviners to LBBYR senior v-p and publisher Megan Tingley, deputy publisher Andrew Smith, and senior editor Alvina Ling.
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ABC-ABA Potential Merger Update
At the Association of Booksellers for Children's board meetings held earlier this week, the organization took one more step closer to a possible merger with the American Booksellers Association, which was first raised close to a year ago. Although ABC president Elizabeth Bluemle, co-owner of the Flying Pig Book Store in Shelburne, Vt., cautioned that "the task forces still have a significant amount of work to do before bringing any final proposal to the membership,"...
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Q & A with Carrie Jones
Carrie Jones has been spending lots of time with pixies, shape shifters and other fantasy creatures-and it doesn't look like she'll be stopping anytime soon. Her books Need and Captivate, about a smart girl being stalked by a pixie, have struck a chord with readers; both books landed on the New York Times bestseller lists. Now the series could be as many of five books. Jones spoke with Children's Bookshelf about how she became enchanted by pixies, what comes next in the series, and why teen readers need fantasy books right now.
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Licensing Hotline: February 2010
These days, publishers often are leery of creating licensed publishing programs based on original, non-franchise-based films. But the risk paid off for HarperCollins Children's Books when it tied in with Avatar, which has become the top box-office earner of all time. Read on for information about the Percy Jackson movie, a Between the Lions program from Gryphon House, a new Sherlock Holmes merchandising effort, and more...
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Galley Talk: 'The Sky Is Everywhere'
After hesitating to read it, Angela K. Sherrill, children's book buyer at Chicago's 57th Street Books, is won over by a spring YA novel.
Many booksellers have probably already read The Sky Is Everywhere. Those who haven't should definitely get started. My Penguin rep enthusiastically recommended this teen debut by literary agent Nelson, both in person and with a Must Read! sticker on its cover. But seeing the billowing heart on the jacket... -
In Brief: February 4
This week, Al Roker picks another book for his club, The 39 Clues adds book seven to its list, and author Erin Dionne, and her editor, Alisha Niehaus, celebrate the arrival of Dionne's new middle-grade novel.
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‘Flanimals Pop-Up’ Shipment Missing—No Joke
Ricky Gervais is involved, but for once it’s no laughing matter: a shipment of more than 12,000 copies of Flanimals Pop-Up by actor/comedian Gervais went missing last week en route to Candlewick’s warehouse in Indiana. Police are investigating the incident as grand theft (the books are valued at more than $240,000).
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