Spent a lovely morning selecting books for Temple Street Children’s Hospital and their Reach out and Read Programme. Budget was tight so we were trawling though bargain bins and special offers to make sure our average price per book was on track. It was hugely enjoyable.
Usually bookshop visits for me are about getting the 2-3 books on the list and trying not to fall for any others when I’m in there. Instead this morning was a bit like a treasure hunt- going through shelves and shelves and under tables and in display bins looking for the hidden gems.
It got me thinking about the daunting choice that is out there when parents and adults are faced with choosing a book for children and teens. It can be completely overwhelming. I wonder is there space in Irish bookshops for ‘book clinics’?- Folks on hand to help select a book based on age, interests, budget and other factors. I know plenty of booksellers who do it brilliantly every day but perhaps a special day or event would help get more adults and parents asking for advice and not just slinking back out the door empty handed and confused……
ps I know I’ve mentioned it before but if you want a great insight into children’s bookselling and booksellers – head over to Shelftalkers Blog
‘Book clinics’ would be nifty! Sometimes well-meaning adults can opt for something for kids which doesn’t suit them at all, or (often) which is too young for them. Especially when they’re 11/12/13 and are likely to want to read fiction from teen section but purchasing adults are wary of books in the same section which are aimed at older teens…
I love the ‘review walls’ that some book shops have. They’re a great guide, and something similar in the children’s section might work very well?
Dubray has bookseller recommends pinned to some books – mini reviews. Hughes does this too.
And I used to book matchmake for people’s little ones – I still do this for friends at Christmas.
But for recommendations, you can’t beat a good bookseller – try Hodges, Dubray or Hughes for eg – and the Eason recommends monthly promos are great.
Or Mad About Books – my lovely wee guide! (in all the Dubray shops)
Next time I’ll come with you, Mags, sounds like fun!!! I do love spending other people’s money.
SarahX
PS nice to have you back, m’am.
Something like the Apple Store’s Genius Bar would be great!
Attendants who know what’s good and are there to answer specific genre questions for kids and adults… There is just faaar too much to choose from!
@Big Smoke – you’re right- often its the transition ages that are most tricky 11-13 and also 6-8 when they are emerging as solo readers
@Celine – me too
@Sarah – nice to be back!
@David – exactly like the genius bars – a space for questions and queries that is always available and can be bypassed by anyone who just wants to get something and get to the check out