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‘The Polar Express’ Celebrates a Quarter Century
In 1985, Chris Van Allsburg's The Polar Express first invited children to climb aboard a magical train for a Christmas Eve journey to the North Pole. To commemorate the book's 25th year, Houghton Mifflin recently released an anniversary edition with a 250,000-copy first print run. The volume includes a CD of Liam Neeson reading the story, a metal ornament featuring an image of the Polar Express conductor, and a new author's note assuring readers, "There is a seat on the train for you..."
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British Comedian David Walliams Makes Book Debut
A fashion-loving boy goes to school disguised as a girl in David Walliams’s first novel, The Boy in the Dress, illustrated by Quentin Blake, which Razorbill released today. Originally published by HarperCollins U.K. in 2008, the book marks a new career path for Walliams, well known in England as co-creator and costar of the award-winning TV sketch comedy show, Little Britain...
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The Power of the Pen
On Monday evening, the PEN Children's and Young Adult Book Authors Committee presented a panel discussion, called "Who Will Speak for the Child: An Evening of Literature and Law." The panel, which included authors Walter Dean Myers and Deborah Ellis, discussed not only the importance of human rights and the impact of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, but also why the United States has been so reluctant to ratify the treaty that it helped to write...
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'Sesame Street 'Launches E-Book Line
On Tuesday, Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization that produces Sesame Street, launched its first e-book collection for young readers. There are currently five Sesame Street e-books are available to read online for free; the company will add more titles next month. Titles are available as flip e-books, audio e-books, and interactive e-book formats, with activities to enhance reading and learning skills.
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Elf on the Shelf's Sales Policy Works for B&N, But Not for All Independents
A self-published children’s holiday book has become a bestseller at a major online retailer—but some independent booksellers are having trouble even getting their hands on copies. First published five years ago and sold through Junior Leagues, The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition is currently B&N.com’s number-one selling book.
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‘Hunger Games 3’ to Pub Next August
Hunger Games fans have just eight more months to wait: the as yet untitled third and final book in Suzanne Collins's dystopian fantasy trilogy will be released in English worldwide on August 24, 2010. An audio version from Scholastic Audio will be released simultaneously. In other news, the trade paperback edition of the first book in the trilogy, The Hunger Games, will be released on July 6, 2010.
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InsideStory: Making Words Memorable
InsideStory Flashcards, the Seattle-based company founded in 2006 by mother/daughter team Kande Underwood and Shauna Simon, is creatively changing the way children learn and remember words. Simon, a teacher and tutor, says that the flashcards were "inspired by necessity. There was nothing else like them on the market with this level of vocabulary. If kids are told stories, they’re much more likely to remember words because they become more meaningful."
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Lerner Gets Advice from Target Readership
Most publishers realize that if you want to know what draws teen readers to certain books and not to others, you'd better ask a teenager. Thus, about 20 YA publishers have been seeking feedback from teen readers by participating in the ALA's YALSA YA Galley Project. Publishers send galleys to teen book discussion groups around the country, and receive honest and throrough feedback. In what might be a first, Lerner Publishing is taking the discussion a step further...
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New Children's Ambassador to Be Announced Jan. 5
Librarian of Congress James H. Billington will announce the next National Ambassador for Young People's Literature on January 5, at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. The two-year post was created in conjunction with the Children's Book Council and Every Child a Reader to raise national awareness of the importance of young people's literature. The new appointee will succeed Jon Scieszka, the country's first children's ambassador, who began his term in January 2008...
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Galley Talk: 'Wishing for Tomorrow'
Liz Murphy, owner of The Learned Owl Book Shop in Hudson, Ohio, chats about Hilary McKay's sequel to A Little Princess.
Finishing a quick re-read of A Little Princess, I wiped away tears as Sara and Becky and the Indian Gentleman drove off. But picking up Wishing for Tomorrow, I was delighted to read McKay's note that explained her feeling that the rest of the girls left behind at Miss Minchin's school needed to have their voices heard. -
In Brief: December 3
This week, Saks Fifth Avenue's windows display the art in a picture book, Alex Rider author Anthony Horowitz tours the country, and Libby Schmais blogs about her debut YA novel.
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Judge Rules in Favor of Meyer in Plagiarism Case
A judge has ruled in favor in Stephenie Meyer and Hachette Book Group, dismissing Jordan Scott’s claim of copyright infringement. Scott had accused Meyer of plagiarism. Scott filed the suit in federal court in California in August of this year. At the time, Hachette called the suit a "publicity stunt to further Ms. Scott’s career," and said it expected the court would dismiss it...
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Little, Brown Gears Up for New Patterson Novel
Initial marketing efforts launching James Patterson's Witch & Wizard were shrouded by a veil of secrecy. At this year's BEA, Little Brown kept ARCs under wraps and under lock and key - literally. Now the publisher is keeping anything but mum about the novel, which debuts December 14 with a 700,000-copy first printing. The current promotional campaign entails a number of initiatives intended to spark young adults' interest in the novel - and to build on the buzz that began last spring...
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Fact and Fiction About H1N1
It's in the headlines everywhere, as schools across the country have recorded heavy student absences this fall, with children laid low with flu symptoms. H1N1. To help parents and educators answer questions and assuage children's fears about this virulent virus, Stone Arch Books, an imprint of Capstone Publishers, is currently offering free downloads of its January 2010 release, Finn Reeder, Flu Fighter, a middle-grade novel...
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In Brief: November 19
This week, it was Extreme Trivia Challenge Night with the Children's Book Council, seven paper engineering wizards popped up at Manhattan's Books of Wonder, Lois Lowry was a star attraction at the Connecticut Children’s Book Fair, and Heather Vogel Frederick hit the road in search of mother-daughter pen pals.
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Random Hopes ‘Fallen’ Will Soar
Delacorte has been stirring up interest in Lauren Kate's Fallen, which launches a four-book series about fallen angels and forbidden love. The author embarked on a six-city pre-pub tour at the end of October to promote the novel, due December 8 with a 100,000-copy first printing. The publisher will roll out the next phase of its marketing and publicity campaign on November 20, when a book trailer will open in 47 theaters...
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Mathew Price Goes Multilingual
Dallas, Tex.-based Mathew Price, a children’s book publisher of pop-up and lift-the-flap books, is making a commitment to multiculturalism that goes beyond the color of a character's skin (or fur), by publishing its books in multiple languages. According to marketing consultant Janey Tannenbaum, almost every book on the fall MP list is available in both English and Spanish-language editions, using exactly the same heavy paper, covers and mechanics it has used in the past...
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Red Balloon Celebrates 25th Year
The Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, Minn. celebrated its 25th anniversary last weekend with a birthday bash that included author signings, story times, and other fun activities that children of all ages enjoyed. And we're sure the adults accompanying their children also celebrated the 20% discount on everything in the store, because store co-manager Justine Stahlmann reported that the store did two to three times the amount of business as it usually does on weekends.
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Moving On Up: Friends from the Front Lines
The children’s book world has seen powerful stories of hope and resilience during wartime before. Nubs now joins their ranks, as one of the most inspiring tales to emerge from the war in Iraq. The picture book photo-essay describes how an abandoned, abused Iraqi dog trekked more than 70 miles through rugged, wintry terrain to find the U.S. Marine who had shown him kindness. The resulting friendship is the kind of happy ending that would, er, make a great book....
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Hoose Wins NBA in Young People's Literature
The National Book Award for Young People's Literature was given Wednesday night to Phillip Hoose, for Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice (FSG/Kroupa), a true-life account of the 15-year-old African-American girl who refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in March 1955, nine months before Rosa Parks. Hoose walked to the podium with Colvin, and in accepting his medal, called the honor "unreal." He began by thanking his "brilliant" editor, Melanie Kroupa...
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