The Webster Branch of the New York Public Library (NYPL) tested the old saying, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
The library wrapped several books with plain brown paper with a short description pasted on top. If the description intrigued the patron, they were required to check out the book before unwrapping it. The point is to try to withhold judgment until the content is examined.
Here’s more from the NYPL blog post: “One of the first books to go out, and one that sparked a lot of discussion, was labeled ’3,856 stories. One book.’ … The secret book in question is Meanwhile by Jason Shiga. It’s an old school ‘Choose Your Own Adventure’ story, in graphic novel format, with about five thousand more twists and turns.”
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What am I reading now? Keturah & Lord Death by Martine Leavitt
I’m certain that just about everyone has heard the adage, “don’t judge a book by its cover.” My question is does anyone actually follow it? I’ll be honest and admit that I don’t. The truth of the matter is publishers don’t expect you to either. In fact, they expect you to do the exact opposite.
The cover of a book is its premier marketing tool because it’s the very first thing you see. Even before the title, it’s the cover that catches your eye. The goal of any cover is three-fold: It has to speak to the book, the genre and the audience. Thus, the cover must stand out amongst the dozens, perhaps hundreds, sharing the same shelf in the bookstore. If it can achieve this holy trinity, then cha-ching, you’ve just made a sale.
What makes children’s books different is that they must appeal to both children and adults. Sounds simple enough, doesn’t it? Well, it’s not. Striking that perfect balance is like solving a mathematical equation without knowing all the parts. However, if you’ve done your homework, then you’re one step closer to success.
