Decline of Picture Books

05/08/2008

Those who are not looking for happiness are the most likely to find it, because those who are searching forget that the surest way to be happy is to seek happiness for others.
Martin Luther King, Jr.

In reporting on this year's Bologna Book Fair, The Economist (April 5, 2008; www.economist.com) observed an issue on the minds of attendees: "How to revive picture books, those lavishly illustrated creations that teach children to love books long before they can read them."

The Economist cited a number of reasons for the decline of picture books...

"All publishers find it hard to deal with cut-price Internet selling, harder nosed high-street booksellers, and people's increasing reluctance to read. Picture books have a particular problem: they cost a bomb to produce and unless they are seen and handled, their price may seem prohibitive."

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