Success waxes and wanes quickly in the book industry for individual authors and start-up small publishers. Some things are more eternal, however. July brings a mixture of long-term, slow yet steady triumphs and potentially catastrophic endings for international publishing. In the middle of the school holidays, it also brings exciting news about the state of children’s books and reading habits at different ages and more attacks against reading freedom in the United States.
- Schiffer Publishing: Crafting 50 Years of Success
- Kids’ Comics Surge at San Diego Comic Con
- Middle Grade Print Books’ Downward Trend
- Iowa Allowed to Ban Books from Popular Kids’ Authors
- Booktopia Trouble for Publishing in Australia
- Booker Prize Influential Book Long List Announced
Schiffer Publishing: Crafting 50 Years of Success
Fifty years ago, a married couple in Pennsylvania launched their arts, crafts, and collectibles-based book publisher using their last name as their brand. This year, Schiffer Publishing celebrates this impressive milestone. This is the story of a niche company doing the same thing since the beginning and making a respected name for itself over the years. Although still focused on craft instruction primarily, they have expanded to have multiple imprints covering personal development and children’s books.
Part of the print-book success may stem from the fact that many crafters and artists prefer physical copies and explicit photos of the steps to do ceramics or knit a sweater. No matter the reason, Schiffer Publishing promises to follow their past success into the future.
Kids’ Comics Surge at San Diego Comic Con
From July 25th to 28th, the San Diego Comic Con attracted people of all ages who love this unique type of reading experience and all the characters and storylines that go along with it. While many people may picture young adults in costumes, racier series, and video games that accompany the major franchises, kids have become a more prominent audience for these books.
Marvel and DC, the two biggies in the comic industry in the United States and around the world, have announced new series with young children as their target demographic. Adult-focused Storm King Comics is also pushing their children’s line Storm Kids with new comic books, and the Winx Saga continues with books to accompany the popular Netflix series.
Middle Grade Print Books’ Downward Trend
While comic book companies increase their offerings and sales to younger demographics, they may face an increasingly upward battle if the newly released numbers continue. July’s data on Middle Grade book sales of print books continue to show a marked downward trend from previous years. These numbers reflect sales of books written for and ready by kids between nine and twelve.
While ebooks are becoming more popular, this may only account for some of the downward trending numbers. This year’s drop is considerably larger than last year: a full five percent below last year’s decline or 1.8 million fewer books sold. Why is this happening? Ebooks and increased screen time top the list, of course, but less free time and challenges to reading freedom across the country may also contribute.
Iowa Allowed to Ban Books from Popular Kids’ Authors
The state of Iowa has become just the latest in a long line of controversial book bans across the United States. It made the news in July when it won its appeal in the US court system. Governor Reynolds banned lawful practice a year ago, but the State Education Association, among other groups, attempted to overturn it. Unfortunately, the last month resulted in a loss for their side of the argument.
While many parents may agree with the pointed argument than books depicting graphic sex should not be in elementary school classrooms, this represents a false equivalency of the extend of the ban. It also includes any mention of gender identity, sexual orientation, or vague subjects. Teachers are left unsure, and young people are left uneducated and unrepresented. These topics are common arguments, alongside race, for book bans, making up 47% of the totals since 2022.
Booktopia Trouble for Publishing in Australia
While the United States struggles with banning books and attracting young readers, Australia siffered a considerable blow to their publishing industry. In early July, Booktopia Group was declared insolvent. Booktopia is Australia’s largest and, in the past, most successful online book sales platform.
Unfortunately, the writing has been on the wall for the large company for quite some time. Since the beginning of the year, they have been falling apart with job cuts, shifts in the executive C-suite, a drastic decline in share prices, and national fines due to consumer rights issues. Down to just eighteen employees, off the Australian Stock Exchange, and unable to secure emergency funding, Booktopia has completely collapsed. While some of the challenges may come from shifting book sales markets and the general state of the economy, mismanagement and poor decisions over time seem to be the leading causes.
Booker Prize Influential Book Long List Announced
July ends with the announcement of the long list of final thirteen books up for the coveted Booker Prize for 2024. Every year, this prestigious award is given to an influential book published in the UK or Ireland that the judges deem worthy of standing the test of time and becoming a piece of honored literature in the future. This year, Edmund de Waal is the chairperson, and the judges include Sara Collins, novelist; Justine Jordan, The Guardian fiction editor; Yiyun Li, writer and professor; and Nitin Sawhney, producer and composer. The finalists’ lists include five men and eight women, both first-time and long-term writers from various publishers and genres. This is a particular international list with an Australian, Dutch, and Native American novelist included. Ultimately, the winner will be announced on November 12th of this year, with various shortlists and prizes given out in the interim.
