It is a fun parlor game to speculate about what the future of books will look like. The author wonders whether stories will be read on screens and supplemented with gaming, illustration, video, and multimedia riddles. In this essay, the author shares his vision of the future of reading and describes what he learned from writing a story based on…

Minneapolis is a book lover's paradise. There are dozens of neighborhood bookstores, a sleek new $125 million Minneapolis Central Library, and Open Book, the nation's first facility devoted to the literary arts. No wonder it was dubbed America's most literate city last year. But one of the best-kept secrets is that Minneapolis and nearby Mankato…

The history of science fiction writing and publishing in the twentieth century is discussed. (DH)

Welcome to the 21st century, where many students turn to Google as their main source of information. In fact, some kids wouldn't look anywhere else but the Internet. So what does that mean for nonfiction books? Five years ago, everybody warned that fresh, interactive digital content would eventually replace old-fashioned books. However, last…

An American editor of children's books describes his interview with three Chinese editors. (PF)

The concept of freight pass-through pricing (FPT) as used by booksellers and publishers is explained, noting variations in FPT, recent actions and reactions, FPT pricing and libraries, and recent changes in FPT. (EJS)

General observations on childrens' book reviewing. (PF)

The advantages and disadvantages for libraries of dealing with book wholesalers are discussed, with tips on unsavory practices and how to prevent them. (JPF)

Speed, fill rate, and discount are reasons why it is often preferable for libraries to order directly from publishers rather than through a distributor. Nevertheless, some publishers have decided not to accept orders from libraries and schools. This has had a deleterious effect on libraries and library collections. (MES)

Historically, black Americans have all but been ignored by white authors and publishers of children's books in this country. As long as discrimination continues, the exclusively black press that has arisen will no doubt continue to exist. (3 references) (Author/SJ)

Describes the problem of decreasing options in the publishing and distribution of wholesale books, and suggests ways in which libraries can deal with this problem. (CMV)

We must give new attention to what our picture books are saying, to whom they are saying it, and how well they are saying it. (Author)

Describes the publishing of mass market paperback books and suggests ways to acquire and use them for childrens' or young adult libraries. (PF)

Presents survey results from 171 public libraries regarding satisfaction/dissatisfaction and past dealings with wholesale book companies, and suggests that the diversity of wholesalers does not require present diverse and inconsistent discounting practices. (Author/CMV)

Describes the author's experiences as an editor of children's books. Some of the fundamentals of juvenile nonfiction are summarized, and several books from the 1960s, '70s and '80s are mentioned. Recognition of nonfiction works by children's book award committees is also discussed. (MES)