Books To Compete With TV
By Michaele Birney Arneson
December 1, 2002


With more than 5,000 new children’s titles offered by publishers each year, parents have no shortage of books to choose from. The problem is knowing which book will capture a child’s interest.

“Reading is in hot competition with video games, computer, games, and television,” notes Dorothy deLespinasse, Stanford Elementary School librarian in Las Vegas. “A book has to have something to grab a reader’s attention quickly. In a picture book, the title and picture on the cover have to draw a reader to the book. For older children’s books, the story line has to move along and keep the reader interested.”

The Three Pigs by David Wiesner

Go With the Winners

According to deLespinasse, one can’t go wrong when choosing award-winning books. The 2002 Newbery Medal winner, awarded to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children, was presented to A Single Shard (Clarion Books; ages 9–-12) by Linda Sue Park. The Three Pigs (Clarion Books; ages 4–8) by David Wiesner received the 2002 Caldecott Medal, awarded to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. The 2002 Coretta Scott King awards, honoring African American authors and illustrators of outstanding books, were presented to author Mildred D. Taylor for The Land (Phyllis Fogelman Books; ages 9–12) and illustrator Jerry Pinkney for Going’ Someplace Special (Atheneum; ages 4–8).

Series Books for Intermediate Readers

Dorothy deLespinasse also has found that “children enjoy good series fiction.” She recommends A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket, and the ninth book in that series, The Carnivorous Carnival (Harpercollins Juvenile Books; ages 9–12). Goats Don’t Brush Their Teeth (Lobster Press Ltd; ages 9–12), by Trina Wiebe, is the sixth book in the Abby and Tess Pet-Sitters series, and Max the Magnificent (Lobster Press Ltd; ages 9–12) is Wiebe’s first release in the Max-A-Million series.

Historical Literature Gaining Popularity

Our Presidents by Ann Graham Gaines

“Books with historical plots can become timeless when they depict children, no matter when they live, who face the same obstacles, the same heart-wrenching decisions, and the same crossroads in their lives as contemporary children,” said Michelle Pearson, an Illinois-based children’s author. “That can make a book very memorable to a child.”

Targeted at adolescents in grades 5–9, recent releases Betsy Zane, The Rose of Fort Henry (Yearling Books) and A Boy at War: A Novel of Pearl Harbor (Aladdin Library) may help young readers assimilate current media attention on terrorist threats and possible war by relating to the young protagonists in these books.

John Rutten, sales and marketing director for The Child’s World, Inc., a publisher of educational, library-bound books for elementary school children, sees a similar interest in non-fiction history books. “Four years ago, The Child’s World saw a lack in the market for history books for upper elementary students and responded with an initiative called, Spirit of America®,” Rutten explained. These books include series on the topics of “Our Cultural Heritage,” Our People,” and “Our Presidents.”

RELATED LINKS:

Industry Trends: Children's book market recovery continues
What the Experts Say: Reading Aloud: Your Voice Counts

     Kids' Books Grow Up 
     Reading Aloud: Your Voice Counts
     Bestsellers: Recommended Reading in Children’s Books

     Pageturners: What’s New in Children’s Books