Public Library Circulation Stats
RSSpmandell@mediasourceinc.com
“Make Way for Stories” (Nov. 2011, p. 28) by Anita Silvey offers a very insightful look at why children’s picture books don’t seem to be selling like they used to. It is refreshing to read a perspective that has nothing to do with e-books. However, Silvey incorrectly stated that national circulation statistics for children’s and teen books are unavailable. The Institute for Museum and Library Services (www.imls.gov) aggregates data from all 50 states and the District of Columbia annually, and makes those statistics available on their website. Figures for 2010 are still being compiled, but data from 2009 indicates that 816,719,000 children’s and teen books were circulated in America’s public libraries that year.
Jasmine Rockwell
Children’s & Youth Svcs. Coordinator
South Dakota State Library, Pierre
Hope, Love, Peace, Joy
The review of Elaine Landau’s What Is Christmas (Oct. 2011, p. 95) states that “‘For four weeks before Christmas
they get ready,’ which is strangely definitive, considering that some families don’t get ready until a few days before [Christmas], and some start in late October or early November.” What the reviewer has missed is the Christian celebration of Advent, the four Sundays and weeks before Christmas. In the Christian churches that celebrate Advent, each Sunday represents one of the spiritual gifts of Christmas: Hope, Love, Peace, and Joy.
Betty W. Snyder
LMS/Tech Coordinator
Conococheague Elementary
Pleasant Valley Elementary, MD
Our Reviewer Repies
As a member of a different faith, I was not aware of the specific schedule of Advent, and I’m assuming anyone looking to learn about Christmas from a children’s book (a young child, a newcomer to Christianity, someone who doesn’t normally celebrate Christmas) would also be unaware. Since there was no sentence indicating that the four weeks refers to Advent, I still think it could have been stated more explicitly.
Mara Alpert
Children’s Literature Department
Los Angeles Public Library, CA
Bibliographies and more
Thank you for featuring The Thinking Girl’s Treasury of Dastardly Dames in your Fall 2011 Series Made Simple. The review mentioned that our books lack bibliographies and, after receiving similar feedback from teachers and librarians, we have added a “Resources” section to our website which includes teacher’s guides for each of our series, as well as bibliographies and “Further Exploration” suggestions for each of our books. For example, readers can explore Marie Antoinette’s home at Versailles and watch a video showing the assembly of a ger. I’m sure your readers will find this a valuable resource. Thank you for your review’s invaluable feedback.
Ann Edwards
Goosebottom Books
Foster City, CA
