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C H A P T E R 1 :
Introduction to the World of Children’s Literature

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read repeatedly, such as picture books. However, hardcover books are expensive, 
and a major loss occurs if classroom copies become misplaced or “permanently bor-
rowed.” Also, from a teacher’s practical point of view, they are heavy to carry and 
take up a lot of shelf space.
Paperback Books 
Paperback Books 
Most books are first issued in hardcover and later are issued in paperback to reach 
a new market of buyers looking for less costly books. Usually the pages of softcover 
books are made of somewhat lower-quality paper. Instead of being sewn, the pages 
are glued together and then glued to a stiff paper cover. Quality paperback books can 
be identified because they have a spine. That is, when you place them on the shelf, 
you can see the back edge of the book where the title and names of author, illustra-
tor, and publisher are printed. Paperback editions can have their shelf life extended 
with Mylar book tape that holds the binding together. Paperback is probably the 
best format for juvenile novels and chapter books that children may read only once. 
Several popular book clubs, such as Carnival, Scholastic, Troll, and Trumpet, 
are marketed in schools nationwide. Teachers distribute order forms to their pupils 
and then collect and tally the orders. The ordering process can be time-consuming, 
but the companies are liberal with free books for the teachers. Because of this, many 
teachers have built large classroom libraries without ever purchasing a book. Book 
club editions are the least costly because they are mass-produced. Quality of paper 
diminishes with the price, and the colors in illustrations are not always true to the 
originals. Picture books are usually stapled in the center, rather than being glued with 
a spine; juvenile novels and chapter books are often smaller in size, which results in 
smaller print. However, book clubs have made great literature available and afford-
able for all children. An added bonus is that some new books appear in a book club 
edition long before the bookstores get them in the paperback edition, because authors 
sell hardcover rights, paperback rights, and book club rights separately to publishers.
Merchandise Books 
Merchandise Books 
One year I taught in a paraprofessional training program at a community college. 
All the students were in their 20s or 30s, and most had children. One of their early 
assignments was to select a children’s book, read it to the class, and ask appropriate 
questions. One by one the students stood up and read books that were about car-
toon, comic book, TV, and movie characters. Not one student had selected a quality 
children’s book—what kids often call “library books.” I realized they would need 
guidance in selecting appropriate children’s books to use in classrooms. 
These future paraprofessionals had selected merchandise books, which are found 
in drugstores and large discount chain stores. They are much less likely to be found in 
libraries or bookstores. These books are called merchandise books in the publishing 
trade because their primary purpose is to sell something—movie tickets, dolls and 
toys, backpacks, admission to theme parks, and countless other things. Merchandise 
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