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| Center display in kids section... no picture books |
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| More of the center display...the illustrated chapter book seems to be popular. |
Every half year or so, I go to the big name bookstore in town (rhymes with Yarns and Global) to see what picture books they feature in the middle wall of the kids' section. This is my totally unscientific way to assess current picture book trends, or at least find out what picture books are considered the biggest commercial sellers.
Last week I went in and found . . . no picture books at all in that section. Instead, middle grade books were being featured, with a whole section devoted to the graphic novel/illustrated chapter books that were popularized by the Wimpy Kid series.
I can only conclude that picture books no longer warrant the prime real estate they had previously occupied for years. This is consistent with the New York Times report from a couple of years ago that parents are moving away from buying picture books in an effort to encourage independent reading (despite the fact that picture books have been shown to be excellent for teaching kids to decode and interpret, as they often contain more complex thoughts and language than early readers). (Publishers and booksellers, however, refuted that premise and argued that picture books were alive and well).
The store still has several open walls that display picture books. Here's one of their shelves:
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All of this, however, is a bit depressing to those of us who wish to break into the picture book market. What do you think? What do you see are the trends in picture books?
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like:
- More Picture Book Trends: Holiday Edition (Nov. 2011)
- Picture Book Trends, Part 2 (Oct. 2011)
- Can You Spot the Picture Book Trend? (May 2011)
Okay, so I go to this Yarns and Global place one to two times a week while my preschooler is at school. My toddler can be fascinated by the books and train table there forever and ever and when I am not reading to him, I read what's on their shelves.
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that the PBs have shirfted in location. They changed their location right before summer hit. Now, I am not sure, but I am wondering if tthey were replaced by middle grade novels for summer reading incentives and now that school is back, if they will be rearranged once again for some other seasonal purppose.
I noticed this too Sylvia and am interested to see if this is a normal changing of the guard or a sign of something else. =/
I was amazed, last time I went, at the rather pitiful picture book selection. The vast majority of PBs on the shelf fell into just a few categories: classic and/or very well-known books; less known books by either well-known authors or celebrities; and series books (e.g. Pinkalicious). I'm not saying those books don't deserve to be there, but really...it would be nice for a few other books to be included for a change.
ReplyDeleteInteresting observations...
I've been trying to read a bunch of recently published PBs to study. They are difficult to come by at my local library so I went to the local bookstore to do my PB study there. The shelves were exactly like the ones you pictured- nothing but graphic novels and illus. CB. There was a small table of PB but they were the classics. It is disappointing and discouraging. I am going to have to consider the picture book app genre.
ReplyDeleteSad to hear. I'd love to be able to walk in the above mentioned bookstore! None where I live.
ReplyDeleteOuch on the PB market. I hope it's just a summer trend.
ReplyDeleteSo sad. :( One more reason (for me as an artist) to affirm that PBs are an art form and self-pub for the present
ReplyDeleteVery Inspiring Art work.
ReplyDeleteCome and stop by at us for Entertainment
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