Poetry, Easter, Moms-February 2008
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Vol II, Issue 1
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Hello ABC Booksellers!
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Welcome back to a brand new year of The Toolbox, the only
e-newsletter written specifically for frontline children's booksellers.
The Toolbox publishes six times a year, on a roughly 8-week
basis. It has no paid advertising, and it is designed to be a one-stop resource
for ideas, news, and information to improve your bottom line.
This year, at your suggestion, we will be
focusing each issue of the Toolbox on upcoming seasons and holidays, with
enough lead time (hopefully) that you'll be able to incorporate some of the projects
and ideas into your schedules.
With this Poetry, Easter, and Mom's issue, we'll give you with some fun Ideas-That-Work for each theme, and we've compiled a Top Titles list for each theme
across publishers. Check it out at the bottom of the Marketplace. This
is a great cheat tool for your perennial seasonal offerings.
Also, we round up the great reviews of our 2007 New Voices picks, serve up a substantial discussion of building customer word-of-mouth in the Food for Thought essay, and keep you up to date with the latest and greatest in the Industry News Round-up, and Nuts & Bolts sections. Last but definitely not least, don't miss the incredible publisher giveaways and promotions in the February Marketplace below.
Also FYI, Rachel Hochberg is our brand new editor, so if you
have any questions or concerns, feel free to drop her a line.
In the meantime, enjoy digging into all the great resources
and information below.
Happy reading!
Kristen | |
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Ideas That Work
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A monthly dose of creativity to get your juices flowing
Poetry Month
Set up a Typewriter Poetry Station
Grown-ups forget that most kids have never seen a
typewriter, and I guarantee you it will be a hit in your children's section.
Set up a small desk with a (functioning) typewriter, a box with blank paper,
and a few example poems hanging nearby. Encourage kids to type out their own
poems, and display them in the store. If you have an activity table, kids can
add some illustrations too.
EasterMake Bunny Shopping Baskets
Try out these Easter-themed baskets from FamilyFun--the perfect place for little shoppers to stash their books! There's even a video to help you streamline the process.
Craft Materials:
-scissors or craft knife
-half-gallon milk or juice cartons
-stapler
-pastel construction paper
-glue or double-sided tape
-hole punch
-pipe cleaners
-googly eyes
1.
With scissors or a craft knife (adults only), remove one panel of the
carton (on the same side as the open spout) and save it to make the
handle. Staple the open spout closed.
2.
Cover the sides of the carton with one color of construction paper, using glue or double-sided tape to affix. Trim to fit.
3.
Punch a hole in the center of the the spout ridge and insert pipe cleaners for whiskers. Glue on a pair of large googly eyes.
4. For ears, cut out large paper ear shapes
from the same color you used to cover the carton. Cut pink shapes a
size smaller and glue them in place in the middle of the ears. Staple
the ears to the top of the bunny base so they stand up.
5.
For a handle, trim the cut carton side, cover it with paper, and staple it to the basket.
Mother's Day
Me and You Books
These clever cereal box books are sure to be a hit with kids and their moms--and they're easy to make, too! Another brilliant idea from FamilyFun, with a video to help you.
Craft Materials:
-cereal box
-8.5" by 11" white paper
-hole punch
-ribbon or string
Cut a 9 1/2-by-6-inch rectangle from the cereal box and place it
picture-side up. Fold it in half. Stack white paper, fold the sheets
into quarters, cut along the top, and set the paper inside the
cardboard. Punch three holes through the paper and cardboard and thread
ribbon to bind. Now, brainstorm topics for both giver and recipient. If
it says on the left page "My Favorite Animals," then print on the
facing page, "Your Favorite Animals." Your child can draw or write in
his answers, leaving the other side blank for the recipient. Other
topics: favorite colors, special places, five things you love about the
other person. The child can fill out the remainder with the recipient.
Other Creative Ideas for Spring
Here are some other offbeat themes to surprise your customers,
courtesy of Chase's Calendar:
March
(Clearly people need
cheering up in March)
- American Red Cross Month
- Craft Month, Natl
- Ideas Month, Intl
- Learn Russian Month
- Mirth Month, Intl
- Music in our Schools Month
- Nutrition Month, Natl
- Optimism Month
- Play-the-Recorder Month
- Umbrella Month, Natl
- Women's History Month, Natl
April
- Celebrate Diversity Month
- Daffynitions Month, Intl
- Humor Month, Natl
- Jazz Appreciation Month
- Kite Month, Natl
- Pecan Month, Natl
- Poetry Month, Natl
May
- Barbecue Month, Natl
- Bike Month, Natl
- Egg Month, Natl
- Get Caught Reading Month
- Hamburger Month, Natl
- Learn German Month
- Personal History Month
- Physical Fitness and Sports Month, Natl
- Salsa Month, Natl
- Smile Month, Natl
- Teen Self Esteem Month
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| NEW VOICES Profiles |
Voices well heard!
Check out the critical acclaim for ABC's inaugural New Voies picks:
 A Crooked Kind of Perfect by Linda Urban
978-0152060077; Ages 8-12
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
"An impressive and poignant debut novel...filled with hope and humor." - School Library Journal
 Face to Face with Grizzlies by Joel Sartore978-1426300509; Ages 6-9National Geographic Children's Books"[A] heart-pounding start...which will draw young researchers and browsers alike." -Booklist
 The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch
978-0316113663; Ages 8-12
Little, Brown & Co.
"Bosch's deliberately eccentric offering is likely to acquire a cult following." -Publisher's Weekly
 The Night Tourist by Katherine Marsh978-1423106890; Ages 10+Hyperion Books for Children"Teenagers...will especially enjoy this intricate read." -Kirkus
 The Rainforest Grew All Around by Susan K. Mitchell
Illustrated by Connie McLennan
978-0977742387; Ages 3-7
Sylvan Dell Publishing
"[People] looking for a rain-forest book that invites participation will want to sing this one aloud...." -Booklist
 Revolution is Not a Dinner Party by Ying Chang Compestine978-0805082074; Ages 10+Henry Holt"Lyrical...memorable.... Certain to inspire discussion about freedom and justice." -Kirkus
 The Thunderstruck Stork by David James Olson
Illustrated by Lynn Musinger
978-0807579107; Ages 4-7
Albert Whitman & Co.
"Rolls along with the momentum of a boat upon a merry sea...." - School Library Journal
 When I Crossed No-Bob by Margaret McMullan978-0618717156; Ages 10-14Houghton Mifflin Harcourt"The simple prose can be pure poetry." -Booklist
 Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr
978-0061214653; Ages 12+
HarperCollins
"A fully imagined faery world which even non-fantasy (or faerie) lovers will want to delve into." (starred review) Publisher's Weekly
Keep your eyes peeled for ABC's 2008 New Voices Picks coming in April!
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FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Putting Your Money (and Effort) Where Their Mouth is
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Why a customer's most important contribution happens
when they leave
You have probably heard the truism that it is easier to
retain an existing customer than to get a new one. After all, they have already
demonstrated an interest in your business (books) and what you have to offer
(expertise and a great experience).
But it's not enough just to keep the same
customers at a time when increasing price pressures, changes in reading
behavior, and aggressive competition keep eroding the bottom line.
You need to capture new customers to grow.
Your existing customers are the key to growth, because they
possess the most powerful marketing tool you have if you know how to unlock it:
word-of-mouth referral.
In its most recent Trust in Advertising report, Nielsen
polled 26,000+ global consumers, and found that "overall consumers trust other
consumers more than anything else! 78% of respondents said they trusted the
recommendation of other consumers." (What source is next, you ask? Newspapers with
just 63%.)
Furthermore, according to Nielsen, North American consumers
lead the world in trust when it comes to consumer generated online content and
reviews. (In other words, we actually read customer reviews on Amazon and the
like.)
I know, I know. Word-of-mouth blah, blah, blah. Sunshine,
and puppies, and cookies all around. EVERYONE knows that you want good word of
mouth.
So-if everyone knows it, and it is more effective by a long
shot, how many of you actually have a plan to go after word of mouth referrals
logically and consistently as a part of your regular business and marketing
strategy?
That's what I thought. It's time to get started, and here's how.
In this excellent online article, marketing expert Daryl T. Logullo lays out five basic strategies for
consistently building good word-of-mouth from existing customers. Logullo, who
specializes in referral building, makes the critical point that a good marketing
strategy should include consistent steps to encourage referrals. Although his
article is geared generally to B2B companies, his suggestions are incredibly useful
when viewed through the bookstore lens.
Below is my take on Daryl's advice, and I'm going to provide some specific Action Steps just for us booksellers. Follow these steps, and you'll be leveraging the power of customer-to-customer marketing.
read on....
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Gotta-Have-It Download of the Month:
Nielsen's most recent "Trust In Advertising Report" 10/07
An interesting look at how consumers are getting and using information about products and services.
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Industry News Round-Up
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Miss any of these key stories?
Giving Disorganized Boys the Tools for Success (The New York Times, 1/1/08)
Popular Children's Author Named Reading Ambassador (The Washington Post, 1/3/08)
Striking Screenwriters Writing Children's Books (United Press International, 1/10/08)
Vatican: "Harry Potter is wrong" (Metro, London, 1/16/08)
Does the World Need Book Prizes? (Telegraph.co.uk, 1/17/08)
The History of Children's Books (Atlantic Online, 1/18/08)
How Shall We Tell the Children? - Questions about whether and how to write about the Holocaust apply to both adult and children's books. (Telegraph.co.uk, 1/19/08)
A Late-Blooming Talent in Full Flower (Wall Street Journal, 1/20/08)
Nestle Children's Prize To End (The Bookseller.com, 1/23/08)
The Same Old Story - Why are children's books so often treated differently? The answer, I think, has to do with those of us who work with children's books. (Publishers Weekly, 1/28/08)
Karen Breen Retires as Kirkus Children's Book Review Editor (School Library Journal, 1/31/08)
Federal Appeals Court Says It's OK for School to Teach Children's Book Encouraging Tolerace for Gay People (ACLU, 1/31/08)
Contest Wants Canadians to Write to Anne of Green Gables (CBC Canada, 2/9/08)
The Bible as Graphic Novel, With a Samurai Stranger Called Christ (The New York Times, 2/10/08)
So Is That Like an A? (The New York Times, 2/14/08)
Nicholls Takes Waterstone's Prize (The Bookseller.com, 2/14/08)
Bookstore Sales Up Slightly In 2007 - A relatively strong second half of 2007 resulted in a 1.1% increase in bookstores sales for 2007 (Publishers Weekly, 2/14/08)
Larger Share of Students Succeed on A.P. Tests (The New York Times, 2/14/08)
Spring Book Festivals 2008 (Publishers Weekly, 2/14/08)
What Happened To Play? - "Public health officials link insufficient playtime to a rise in childhood obesity. Parents bemoan the fact that kids don't play the way they themselves did--or think they did. And everyone seems to worry that today's children are missing out on something essential." (New York Times Magazine, 2/17/08)
Independent Bookstores On The Comeback Trail? - If indie bookstores really are
dying out, as conventional wisdom swears they are, they're certainly
taking their time doing it. "The trade group for independents reported
115 new members last year, the third year in a row that more than 100
openings were recorded." Sales are up, too.... (Pittsburgh
Post-Gazette, 2/19/08)
Diamond, Retailers Eye Graphic Novel Remainders (Publishers Weekly, 2/19/08)
Product Placement Comes To The Publishing World - "Specifying a character's brand of lipstick, shoes or handbag is a commonly accepted way to add an aura of reality or consumer aspiration to books aimed at young readers.... But what if writers and publishers enlisted companies to sponsor those branded mentions, as is the widespread practice in Hollywood?" (The New York Times, 2/19/08)
Children's Book Art Gains Mainstream Acclaim (Boston Globe, 2/21/08)
Canada Reads Becomes A Force In Canadian Publishing (The Globe & Mail, Canada, 2/25/08)
Quill Awards, R.I.P. - The Quills were meant as a kind of people's choice awards for the books world. (Publishers Weekly, 2/25/08)
History Survey Stumps U.S. Teens (The New York Times, 2/26/08)
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Nuts & Bolts
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News in brief
Plan now for TV Turn-Off Week: April 21-27, 2008TV Turn-off Week is a great opportunity to promote family reading in your store. The Center for Screen-Time Awareness, who sponsors this annual event, has two contests: "A National Hunt for Creativity" scavenger hunt for elementary school aged children, their families and friends on 4/27/08, and "Show Your Shiny Side!", a national reading, writing and creating contest co-sponsored by Bubblegum Books. Information on both contests, as well as other TV-free resources can be found at the Center for Screen Time Awareness' website. REMINDER: Children's Book Week has a new home: May 12th-18th 2008!For the first time independent booksellers will be able to really promote Children's Book Week across the country! Mark your calendars for May 12th-18th and use this as an opportunity to promote great children's books, and the brand new Children's Ambassador, Jon Scieszka. More details to come! A new program that lets Eco-friendly Book lovers balance out the paper used for the books they read by planting treesAbout 20 million trees are cut down annually for virgin paper used for the production of books sold in the U.S. alone. Eco-Libris partners with international non-profits in developing countries to plant trees in areas of the world where deforestation is a problem. In addition to offsetting the environmental impact of all those books, this program benefits local economies as well. Working with readers, bookstores, and publishers Eco-Libris is committed to making reading more sustainable. They are particularly interested in establishing relationships with independent bookstores because they "see them as a viable part of a local economy that supports both community life and regional sustainability." Find out more about this cool idea at the Eco-Libris website, or e-mail kristen. ABC Congratulates the Winners of the Sydney Taylor Book AwardsSarah Gershman and Kristina Swarner, author and illustrator of The Bedtime Sh'ma: A Good Night Book, Sid Fleischman, author of The Entertainer and the Dybbuk, and Sonia Levitin, author of Strange Relations. The Sydney Taylor Book Award of the Association of Jewish Libraries honors new books for children and teens that exemplify the highest literary standards while authentically portraying the Jewish experience. Find out more at: The Association of Jewish LibrariesThe Ezra Jack Keats Foundation announces the 21st annual call for grant proposalsFounded by Ezra Jack Keats, the renowned author and illustrator of such books as The Snowy Day and Whistle for Willie, The EJK Foundation has awarded over half a million dollars in grants since the minigrant program was started in 1987,to public schools and libraries in all 50 states and the US Commonwealth. The grants are given to creative educators and librarians for programs which create a link between children and books that can change their lives. The deadline for submission of proposals for the $350 Minigrant award is September 15, 2008. Visit the foundation website for more information. We applaud ABC member Bookazine for underwriting SHOP LOCAL initiatives at the Regional levelFrom PW 1/8/08: "After forging partnerships with the Southern and New-Atlantic independent bookseller associations this fall to support their Buy Local initiatives, Bookazine has added a new partnership in New England. The indie wholesaler will become an underwriter for NEIBA's Shop Local grants program, which was created last year to help members establish local independent business alliances. Bookazine's campaign to support the independents and to convince the independents to support indie wholesalers has already begun to pay off.." Rock on! Contact SIBA, NAIBA, and NEIBA for info. Busy NYC children's bookstore seeks a full-time floor supervisor The floor supervisor will: · perform all the duties of a bookseller - hand selling, cashiering, shelving, etc. · supervise the staff · maintain the appearance/organization of the sales floor · open/close the store · fulfill the duties of the manager in manager's absence Applicants
must be extremely knowledgeable about children's books and have retail
supervisory experience (bookstore preferred). Please be aware that
this is an extremely physical job that requires evening, weekend, and
holiday work. Interested parties please e-mail: Beth Puffer |
February Toolbox Marketplace
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Specials, giveaways, and fun stuff for your business
Hot Galleys Something to Blog About by Shana Norris
Amulet Books; 12-16
February 2008
E-mail
Boys, bullies, and blogs come together in a book that brings the popular online diary format to print. My Dad's a Birdman by David Almond, illustrated by Polly Dunbar
Candlewick; 8-12
April 2008
E-mail
A joyful, quirky, tender tale from a masterful author and illustrator.
The Golden Bull by Marjorie Cowley
Charlesbridge;
11-14
July 2008
E-mail
A drought in ancient Mesopotamia has left siblings Jomar and Zefa on their own. Kaput and Zosky by Lewis Trondheim
First Second Books; 9 and up
April 2008
E-mail
Kaput and Zosky are the most mayhem-inducing aliens in the galaxy--but they find themselves continually frustrated in their schemes for universal obliteration in this colorful, cartoony graphic novel. Smart Sex Stuff for Kids 7 - 17 by Carole Marsh
Gallopade International; parent resource and children 7-17
April 2008
E-mail
"This common-sensical, and sometimes humorous, approach stresses choices based on information and maturity." -Susan McBride, Library Journal. Angel by Cliff McNish
Carolrhoda Books; 12-18
March 2008
E-mail
Two girls linked by destiny...Stephanie believes in angels. Freya is turning into one. Will they have the courage to face their fears of the unknown? The Vanities by Terrence Lawlor
Prydwen Press; 9 and up
May 2008
E-mail
Hair ye, hair ye: as featured in PW Children's Bookshelf, fashion illustrator Lawlor delivers a Cinderella story unlike any other!
Paco and the Giant Chile Plant/Paco y la planta de chile
gigants by Keith Polette
Raven Tree Press; 5-7
April 2008
E-mail
Retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk in southwestern
setting. Bilingual embedded Spanish in English story. Givaways and Event Kits Abrams: Jellybean Jar window display kit to promote Laura Numeroff's The Jellybeans. 1 per store.
Email Jason Wells Candlewick: Judy Moody Day Event Kit
Web availability Candlewick: Maisy Story Hour Event Kit - starting February 29th
Web availability
Charlesbridge: Literacy Poster: Read, React, Renew the Earth.
Email Donna Spurlock Gallopade: "Masters of Disasters" free Science + Mysteries = Fun2 counter display plus free promotional bookmarks, free iParenting Media Award Winner stickers with initial 6 each stock order of this new Carole Marsh Mysteries series.
Email Michele Yother Prydwen: The Vanities signed limited edition art prints
Email Deborah Sloan
Sourcebooks: This year, celebrate Earth Day fairy style! Spend the greenest day of the year with the only fairies who recycle - The Fairy Chronicles! Visit The Fairy Chronicles for lots of green-themed activities or email to request a Fairy Circle event kit. Every book in the series (including the two just released) promote saving the environment one person (or fairy) at a time.
Email Sylvan Dell: A poster featuring your favorite Sylvan Dell title (backlist titles only).
Email Sylvan Dell: Postcards featuring your favorite Sylvan Dell title - great to hand out to teachers, parents, and other customers.
Email
Contests Candlewick: Judy Moody's Totally Rare Author Visit: Host a Judy Moody Day event with the Candlewick Event Kit in Spring 2008 and enter to win a visit from Judy Moody author Megan McDonald! More information available atJudy Moody's website.
Gallopade: The Counterfeit Constitution Mystery will feature contest winners of the Carole Marsh Mysteries Creepy Classroom Contest. VisitGallopade for details. Sylvan Dell: Homeschool Writing Competition: Offers homeschooled students working at a high school level a unique opportunity to explore the world of children's literature and try their hands at writing picture books. The winning author will receive a $200 prize, and the manuscript will be seriously considered for publication. To learn more, please visit Sylvan Dell and click on "Homeschool Writing Competition." Tenspeed: Hey, Little Ant Essay Challenge:
Children
in Kindergarten through third grade are invited to answer the question
on the final page of the book, "What do you think that kids should
do?", to win prizes for themselves, their teacher and their library. Downloadable Materials Candlewick: Listen to author Charles R. Smith read from Twelve Rounds to Glory, recipient of a 2008 Coretta Scott King Author Honor, at this address (Click on the "Hear More" link to the left of the page).
Charlesbridge: Margaret Chase Smith: A Woman For President mock election guide: click here.
Gallopade: Mystery of the Month for March is The Mystery on the Iditarod Trail. For a free download kit for March's mystery, visit Gallopade. Sylvan Dell: Free Story Time Activity - Animal Sorting and Matching Cards (corresponds with Sylvan Dell's spring title Animals Are Sleeping). Click here. Tenspeed: Teachers guide for Where in the Wild: Camouflaged Creatures Concealed...and Revealed, winner of the SB&F Prize for Excellence in Science Books: click here.
Top Titles Poetry
Side By Side: New Poems Inspired By Art From Around the World by Jan Greenberg
Abrams Books for Young Readers
Ages 10 and up, hardcover, $19.95
ISBN-13 978-0-81099-471-3
On The Farm by David Elliott, illustrations by Holly Meade
Candlewick Press
Ages 3-5, hardcover, $16.99
ISBN-13 978-0-76363-322-6
Hey There, Stink Bug! by John Schindel, photographs by Steven Holt
Charlesbridge
Ages 6-9, paperback, $5.95
ISBN-13 978-1-58089-340-4
Nature's Paintbox: A Seasonal Gallery of Art and Verse by J. Patrick Lewis
Millbrook Press
Ages 7-10, library bound hardcover, $16.95
ISBN-13 978-0-8225-6807-0
The Brothers' War: Civil War Voices in Verse by Patricia Thomas
National Geographic Children's Books
Ages 10 and up, hardcover, $17.95
ISBN-13 978-1-4263-0036-3
The Adventures of Isabel by Ogden Nash, illustrations by Bridget Starr Taylor
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Ages 4-8, hardcover with jacket, $16.95
ISBN-13 978-1-4022-1027-3
Mr. Ferlinghetti's Poem by David Frampton (story and woodcuts), original poem by Lawrence Ferlinghetti
Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.
Ages 5-10, $18.00
ISBN-13 978-0-8028-5290-8Easter The Jellybeans by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Lynn Munsinger
Abrams Books for Young Readers
Ages 4-8, hardcover, $16.95
ISBN-13 978-0-81099-352-5 Colors Everywhere: A Guess How Much I Love You Storybook by Sam McBratney, illustrated by Anita Jeram
Candlewick Press
Ages 2-4, board book, $7.99
ISBN-13 978-0-76363-545-9 All New Crafts for Easter by Kathy Ross
Millbrook Press
Ages 5-9, paperback, $7.95
ISBN-13 978-0-7613-2392-1 Celebrate Easter: With Colored Eggs, Flowers, and Prayer by Deborah Heiligman
National Geographic Children's Books
Ages 6-9, hardcover, $15.95
ISBN-13 978-1-4263-0020-2 Fairy Foals by Suzanah
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Ages 4+, hardcover, $19.95
ISBN-13 978-0-7613-2392-1 Busy Bunnies by Leslie Bulion, illustrated by Leslie Evans
Tricycle Press
Ages 2-3, board book, $6.95
ISBN-13 978-1-58246-242-4 At Jerusalem's Gate: Poems of Easter by Nikki Grimes and David Frampton
Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.
Ages 9-14, $20.00
ISBN-13 978-1-4022-1166-9 Mother's Day Because You Are My Baby by Sherry North, illustrated by Marcellus Hall
Abrams Books for Young Readers
Ages 3-6, hardcover, $15.95
ISBN-13 978-0-81099-482-9 If I Could by Jane Kemp and Clare Walters, illustrated by Penny Dale
Frances Lincoln Children's Books
Ages 3-7, hardcover, $15.95
ISBN-13 978-1-84507-449-4 Time To Say I Love You by Susan Milord, illustrated by Christopher Denise
Candlewick Press
Ages 2-6, hardcover, $15.99
ISBN-13 978-0-76362-348-7 All New Crafts for Mother's Day and Father's Day by Kathy Ross
Millbrook Press
Ages 5-9, paperback, $7.95
ISBN-13 978-0-8225-6368-6 You and Me Together: Moms, Dads, and Kids Around the World by Barbara Kerley
National Geographic Children's Books
Ages 5-8, hardcover, $16.95
ISBN-13 978-0-7922-8297-6 I Love You More by Laura Duksta, illustrations by Karen Keesler
Sourcebooks Jabberwocky
Ages all, hardcover with jacket, $16.99
ISBN-13 978-1-4022-1126-3
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Well, that's it for this month.
Again, please let us know what you think! We're always looking for great suggestions, ideas, and comments. This is your newsletter!
Best Wishes and Happy Selling!
Kristen
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Kristen McLean
Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC)
62 Wenham Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
617-390-7759
www.abfc.com
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