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You are here: Home / Archives for trends

Children’s Booksellers End 2016 on an Up Note

January 12, 2017 By achuka Leave a Comment

Some interesting stats, figures and trends in this Publishers Weekly report…

Although middle grade and YA series have frequently topped in-store bestsellers lists for the holidays, sales at indies for the two biggest long-time franchises, Wimpy Kid (Abrams/Amulet) and Harry Potter (Scholastic/Levine), were mixed. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: Parts 1 and 2 was the number one bestseller for 2016 at Brookline Booksmith. At Powell’s City of Books in Portland, Ore., two Harry Potter titles—Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them—and Wimpy Kid #11, Double Down, took three of the top four spots in children’s holiday bestsellers.

But many smaller stores reported softer sales for both the latest Jeff Kinney book and for the Fantastic Beasts screenplay. That was the case at 10-year-old Harleysville Books in Harleysville, Pa., which gets 60% of its sales from children’s books. “This year’s Wimpy Kid was the slowest one we had. In years’ past, I ordered by the case,” said owner Stephanie Steinly, whose customers also had trouble with the format of Fantastic Beasts. By contrast, the two Harry Potter books illustrated by Jim Kay were “successful”—last year’s Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and October’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

With no single “it” book, a mix of titles did well. At Kids Ink, Julius Lester and Jerry Pinkney’s 2005 picture book The Old African (Dial) was one of Mullin’s big books of the season. She also did particularly well with books by authors who had visited the store. Gingerbread Christmas (Putnam) by Jan Brett, who drew 400 people for an event during the holiday season, was her top seller. Inkwood Books in Tampa, Fla., which is more than half children’s books, had strong sales for picture books over the holidays. Owner Stefani Beddington sold “a ton” of The Story Book Knight (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky). She noted that it is written by the same authors, Helen Docherty and Thomas Docherty, as The Snatchabook (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky), which continues to do well.

The bestselling kids’ book at Lemuria Books in Jackson, Miss., was also a picture book by an author who visited the store—twice: William Joyce’s Ollie’s Odyssey (S&S/Atheneum/Dlouhy). “We had some amazing turnouts for our children’s events,” said Clara Martin, children’s buyer for the children’s section, which is known as OZ. Other top sellers included the Fan Brothers’ picture book The Night Gardener (Simon & Schuster), which was a pick for the OZ First Editions Club, and two middle-grade novels: Trenton Lee Stewart’s The Secret Keepers (Little, Brown, and Kate Beasley’s middle-grade novel Gertie’s Leap to Greatness (FSG).

Andrea Beaty and David Roberts’s picture book Ada Twist, Scientist (Abrams) appeared on a number of in-store bestsellers lists, including Skylight in Los Angeles, where manager Steven Salardino reported that it was the fourth biggest-selling children’s title. Jon Klassen’s We Found a Hat (Candlewick) was an “expected” hit, said Salardino, who called Klassen’s hat trilogy “amazing.”

via Children’s Booksellers End 2016 on an Up Note.

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: sales, trends

Scholastic predicts next big children’s book trends

December 22, 2016 By achuka Leave a Comment

Scholastic’s reading club editors have forecast kindness, book anniversaries, humor and reimagined classics as some of the top trends in kids books to look out for in 2017.

Examining how 2016′s news headlines can give children a false perception that the world is unkind and hostile, the publisher pinpoints forthcoming books for younger children, including How Do Dinosaurs Stay Friends? (pictured) by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague and What Does It Mean To Be Kind? by Rana DiOrio and Stephane Jorisch, that teach the importance of empathy, openness and sharing.

For older children looking for stories about unexpected friendships, Scholastic has its eye on 2017 titles such as The Kindness Club by Courtney Sheinmel and perennial bestseller Wonder by R.J. Palacio.

Another big trend on Scholastic’s radar is the reintroduction of modern classics to a new generation of readers. Titles launching next year to watch for include the 30th anniversary of The Magic School Bus, the 25th anniversary of Goosebumps and the 20th anniversary of Captain Underpants.

via Kidscreen » Archive » Scholastic predicts next big children’s book trends.

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: anninversaries, predictions, trends

Bologna 2016: Wrapping Up

April 13, 2016 By achuka Leave a Comment

Publishers Weekly’s thorough summary and reflection on this year’s Bologna Book Fair…

The show’s proximity to the London Book Fair (which is taking place this week) didn’t appear to dampen attendance, which was up more than 9%, according to BCBF officials. Several publishers and agents PW spoke to were continuing straight on to London. Next year’s fair is scheduled for April 3–6, which puts it after the London Book Fair (March 14–16) for the first time since 2007, and well before the Easter holiday on April 16.

via Bologna 2016: Wrapping Up a Quietly Busy Fair.

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: fair, publishing, trends

What’s Selling at Wellesley Books

March 9, 2016 By achuka Leave a Comment

We’ve noticed that our middle-grade and YA readers are moving away from high fantasy, dystopian, and vampire stories, though fantasy still reigns in graphic novels. We’ve seen a resurgence of interest in historical fiction and more realistic novels. Not necessarily super-sad books like John Green’s, but realistic fiction more along the lines of Sarah Dessen’s.

Three books that are huge for us right now are Pax by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Jon Klassen, about a boy and his pet fox who are separated during a war and have to survive without each other. It is a beautiful and heartbreaking story that reveals the effects of war through the perspectives of both of these innocents. The book appeals to a lot of parents as well as kids, especially those who loved Wonder and The Thing About Jellyfish, since it has similar heart, and really speaks to readers. I’ve had kids come back and tell me that Pax was amazing, and unlike anything they’ve ever read.

Another very popular historical novel is Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys, which is based on a true story. It takes place in 1945, on a German ship filled with refugees hoping to find a better life. Their stories converge, and the novel represents so many viewpoints. It’s a very emotional read and a fantastic crossover to adults. This book appeals to anyone interested in stories focusing on human interactions, and also to kids who like nonfiction.

For the rest of this recommended piece, go to What's Selling at Wellesley Books.

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: reviews, sales, trends

Long live the ebook – it’s a champion of the printed word, says Philip Jones

January 8, 2015 By achuka 1 Comment

With the public promiscuously hopping from one format to another, reports of the e-reader’s death look distinctly premature…

The rise of these electronic devices built only for reading has been a boon to the books sector. The transition to digital reading brought with it a new kind of publishing that was distinctly more experimental, energetic and (nakedly) commercial than that which preceded it. Just this week the publisher Little, Brown began publishing ebook shorts based on the hugely successful Broadchurch TV series that are made available to download in the hours after each show.

Outside of traditional publishing, digital reading has allowed authors to publish directly to marketplaces run by Amazon, Nook and Kobo. We have also seen the rise of fan-fiction sites (one of which helped create Fifty Shades) and writer development sites such as Wattpad and Movellas.

There is a vibrancy and quickness around publishing that can be directly linked to the arrival of the ebook. It has helped revive the print book market, with titles such as The Miniaturist and H is for Hawk published as beautifully rendered physical editions to be held, read and kept. The better publishers understand the boundaries of these different channels, the better they have become at delivering content to them.

via Long live the ebook – it’s a champion of the printed word | Philip Jones | Comment is free | The Guardian.

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: ebooks, eReaders, Kindle, print, publishing, trends

Bologna 2014: Realism Surging, Dystopia Declining

March 27, 2014 By achuka Leave a Comment

Another report from Bogona on the ris of realism and the fall of dystopia:

I’ve been coming [to Bologna] for 12 to 15 years, and I’ve never had as many European publishers asking for middle-grade,” said Steven Chudney of the Chudney Agency. In terms of realistic YA fiction, one of Chudney’s major titles is Everything That Makes You by Moriah McStay, which HarperCollins will publish in 2015; German rights to the project have sold.

 

“There will be room again in the market for realistic YA, especially with the Fault in Our Stars and If It Stay movies coming out later this year,” said agent Brenda Bowen of Sanford J. Greenburger Associates. She added that she’s “pleased” with the picture book market, too. “We’re selling foreign rights, and people are still looking for them.”

Alexander Slater, foreign rights agent at Trident Media Group, also felt that “contemporary realism” is having a moment, with “international publishers moving away from fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal.” On the middle-grade side, Trident represents R.J. Palacio, and Slater said that the Wonder phenomenon continues to grow (rights have sold in 40 territories). Thus, he said there had been “definite interest” in the author’s follow-up book, 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Brown’s Book of Precepts, which is due out from Random House in late August.

And David Fickling has been there with his own special agenda:

British publisher David Fickling, whose company went independent last year, was back in Bologna after a three-year absence, with a backpack filled with books. “I’ve got five fantastic novels I’m shopping,” he said. He wants to publish for all age ranges, and one category he’s excited about publishing is nonfiction: “I want to bring the effort that people put into picture books into nonfiction,” he said.

via Bologna 2014: Realism Reigns.

Filed Under: Blog, Books Tagged With: Bologna, dystopia, fair, middle-grade, realism, trends, YA

The future of children’s books – a Highland and Islands event

May 29, 2013 By achuka Leave a Comment

Kate Wilson

WRITERS in the Highlands and Islands have a unique opportunity to gain vital insights and information on the latest trends in children’s publishing and what publishers are currently looking for, at two events in Inverness hosted by two of the industry’s leading figures.

Kate Wilson, managing director of highly innovative and original children’s publisher Nosy Crow, and Kathryn Ross of Scotland’s leading literary agency for children’s authors Fraser Ross Associates, will lead the sessions on Wednesday 5th June at the Mercure Hotel, Inverness.

via The future of children’s book – a unique opportunity for Highland and Islands authors – Lifestyle & Leisure – Stornoway Gazette.

Filed Under: Blog, Books, Children Tagged With: event, Highlands, industry, Kate Wilson, Nosy Crow, publishing, Scotland, trends

Changes and Trends in Children’s and YA Publishing: A Panel Discussion

April 24, 2013 By achuka Leave a Comment

paneldis

A good summary of the panel discussion follows this introduction.

PW

Capitalizing on trends, having big-picture visions, and making project pitches stand out while also appealing to niche audiences were some of the topics addressed during an April 16 American Book Producers Association panel called “Straight Talk on Juvenile Publishing.” The panel featured three speakers: Wesley Adams, executive editor at Farrar, Straus and Giroux Books for Young Readers; Sarah Fabiny, editor-in-chief for series and licenses at Grosset & Dunlap and PSS, in the Penguin Young Readers Group; and Beverly Horowitz, v-p and publisher at Random House/Delacorte. ABPA treasurer Valerie Tomaselli served as moderator.

via Changes and Trends in Children's and YA Publishing: An ABPA Panel.

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: acquisition, analysis, discussion, panel, publishing, trends

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