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In Brief: March 4
This week, President Obama writes a proclamation for Read Across America Day, the Children's Book Council reveals the Children's Choice finalists, two "angelic" authors go on tour together, a Louis Sachar novel has its theatrical debut, and Scholastic's 'Be Big' publishing program for Clifford.
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Q & A with Elisha Cooper
Author of such picture books as Ballpark, Dance!, and Beach, Elisha Cooper has transported young readers to numerous child-pleasing locales. His latest book takes them to yet another. Due from Orchard, Farm follows the workings of a Midwestern farm over the course of a year.
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Sedaris Teams with Falconer for Next Book
David Sedaris's next title to be illustrated book of animal fables.
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What's Old Is New for Pooh
Starting this spring, Penguin Young Readers Group's Grosset & Dunlap imprint will publish a variety of formats under the Classic Pooh brand, through a deal with Disney Licensed Publishing. The books, to include hardcover picture books, board books, paperback storybooks, sticker books and novelty books, will feature artwork inspired by the classic E.H. Shepard illustrations and editorial content tied to the world of A.A. Milne's original stories.
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Galleys on the Go Give Readers an Early Look at Debut Novel
Authors have been known to embark on pre-pub tours to spark interest in forthcoming books. But first novelist Lauren Oliver, whose Before I Fall will be released by HarperTeen next week, devised a more, well, novel plan to give potential fans a heads-up about her book: she sent two ARCs on the road. And she's also done her part to spread word of the novel online and in person.
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Rendezvous with Readeo
With a new subscription site called Readeo.com, which launches this week, children and adults in different cities can see live video of each other sharing digital picture books. All that's missing: snuggling while reading the stories. So far four publishers—Candlewick Press, Simon & Schuster, Chronicle Books, and Blue Apple Books—are licensing titles to Chicago-based Readeo. In return, they receive an undisclosed percentage of Readeo's revenues—and expose their books to a new audience.
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Q & A with Ricky Gervais
British comedian, actor, and writer Ricky Gervais's Flanimals and More Flanimals, illustrated by Rob Steen, introduced a cast of absurd creatures, which are now taking on additional zany dimension in Flanimals Pop-Up, due from Candlewick. Gervais spoke with Bookshelf about this and his earlier book projects.
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Dutton to Publish First John Grisham Series for Kids
Penguin Young Readers Group in the U.S. and Hodder & Stoughton in the U.K. announced today that they will be publishing bestselling author John Grisham's first series of books for children. The middle-grade series will focus on 13-year-old Theodore Boone, a legal whiz kid. In the first book, Theodore Boone: Kid Lawyer, Theo gets caught up in a high-profile murder trial in his town. It's scheduled to be released by Dutton Children's Books on May 25, and on June 10 by Hodder in the U.K. The second book, as yet untitled, is scheduled for release in 2011.
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Numbers Down, But Spirits Up, at 2010 Toy Fair
The number of publishers exhibiting at Toy Fair continues to decline, with fewer than 25 of the 1,100 booths at the show featuring publishing houses this year, versus about 30 last year and 40 to 45 five years ago. Bargain book vendors and liquidators now take up some of the space previously held by traditional publishers in the Children's Books & Music section of the show, which ran from February 14-17 at the Javits Center.
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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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