Adult authors writing for children is nothing new these days, as the likes of Alice Hoffman, Joyce Carol Oates and James Patterson can now be seen scattered throughout the kids' department, but this spring there are a few new entries into the market. Edgar Award winner Robert B. Parker makes his children's book debut with the novel Edenville Owls, a thriller about a boy and his newly formed basketball team, set in 1945. Mary Higgins Clark tries out a new genre with a picture book illustrated by Wendell Minor, Ghost Ship, about a boy who travels back in time to find out what happened on a ship 250 years ago. Sportswriter Mike Lupica will have his fourth novel for youngsters, Summer Ball, the sequel to his bestselling Travel Team. And Bee Season author Myla Goldberg offers her first picture book, Catching the Moon, illustrated by Chris Sheban, about a woman who goes fishing for the man in the moon.
• For Parker's first children's book, the Sleuth imprint of Philomel is printing 100,000 copies, and has created a nine-copy display that will include one signed copy. The company will also cross-promote Edenville Owls in Putnam's adult catalogue. As far as publicity, Parker will do a television satellite tour on April 24, doing 12 to 14 interviews and will receive coverage in national outlets like Scripps Howard and Reuters, as well as regional publications like the Detroit Free Press, the Charlotte Observer and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
• Mary Higgins Clark sets sail with an 11-city tour, where she will promote Ghost Ship as well as her new adult release, I Heard That Song Before. Higgins Clark will join up with friend and illustrator Wendell Minor for a few joint events in the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut area, as well as on Cape Cod. She will do a two-day radio satellite tour, in conjunction with her adult book. Simon & Schuster has printed 400,000 copies of Ghost Ship, and created a nine-copy floor display, as well as a 16-copy floor display holding 12 copies of I Heard That Song Before and four copies of Ghost Ship. The company is sending 250 limited edition signed posters to top accounts, media and librarians, and has a podcast with the author on its Web site, as well as storytime event activities, available for downloading here.
• Mike Lupica returns with another sports-themed book, Summer Ball; Philomel printed 200,000 copies and has created a 12-copy floor display, and copies of the book will be given away at kids' sports camps. Lupica will promote Summer Ball with appearances on The Today Show, The Early Show and Imus; Family Circle will hold a sweepstakes for the book in its June issue.
• Catching the Moon, Myla Goldberg's picture book published by the Arthur A. Levine imprint at Scholastic, comes out next month. Scholastic is working with Book Sense to send signed copies of the book to top buyers, and a Q&A with the author will be featured on Scholastic.com closer to pub date.
One thing seems certain; adult authors will continue to try their hand at children's books. Case in point: this November, Frank McCourt will release Angela and the Baby Jesus, a Christmas title that will be released in two editions: a gift edition from Scribner and a picture book from S&S.
