Banning children’s books, because of lead concerns, remains somewhat in limbo.  The latest interpretation to come down the pike seems to say that vintage books and those published pre-1985 are banned because of possible traces of lead in some books due to the publishing/printing process.  Even giving these books away may violate the law, the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008,  that went into effect Feb. 10.
For more unformation and updates on the topic, you may want to read these articles.  They’re only a few of those circulating in print and online publications.
Congress Orders Up a Beatrix Potter Bonfire
The Death …read more

On Tuesday, HarperCollins closed its Collins doors and cut around 60 positions. The Bowen Press is also closing.
It is unsure whether the Bowen books will be released under the HarperCollins Children’s Books or HarperTeen label.
It’s a sad day when we see something like Bowen Press close. It was, as they stated, Provacative, Bold, New, Graphic…and in my words…needed.

December proved to be one of the best months in 2008 for children’s book sales. The Twilight series led the way with The Tale of Despereaux and Marley and Me, both December movies, following behind.
Rowling’s The Tales of Beedle the Bard was also a fast sale.  It was priced low, at $12.99 to ensure readers and consumers would purchase it during the holiday season.

News consuming the children’s book publishing world revolves around the words “lead free.”  A new law, The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, enacted in August 2008 and going into effect February 10, 2009, deals with the need for toys to meet specific lead free standards.  This is a result of the toys found containing lead that originated in China.
Now strict standards are being applied to those manufactured in the United States, as well as those coming from foreign countries.  This affects the large manufacturers as well as small businesses, home businesses, and craftspeople.
Books aimed for children 12 and under apparently …read more

Autobiographical Fraud
The third in a recent flurry of autobiographies has been proven a contrived story, one that was praised on Oprah’s show, as well as by others.  Berkley Books cancelled a Holocast love story, Angel in the Fence, due to come out in February, after they found out the story was not true as initially claimed.
This book follows two published books, A Million Little Pieces and Love and Consequences, which the authors eventually admitted were fabricated.  A children’s book, Angel Girl, based on the supposed Holocaust love story, appeared in print earlier this year.
With these widely publicized books coming to light …read more

The questions arise as we read some of the newly released books about Christmas, Santa and the North Pole: “Are scare tactics featured in children’s Christmas books to promote global warming agendas?  Are these books featuring facts or fiction when it comes to telling the North Pole and polar bear story?  Is the intention to alarm children or simply inform them? Or do they find the true story in books making the rounds this Christmas?”
Because Christmas books are popular and Christmas one of the highly celebrated holidays, it makes sense, if someone wants to promote a book, to do it under …read more

A recent shipment of 22 million copies of Stephenie Meyer’s four best sellers is apparently not enough to satisfy her blood thirsty readers. Hachette, the publisher, has gone back to press to print 7.5 million additional copies in all formats.
-Publisher’s Weekly

OneBookTwoBook.com 
Don’t miss out on this GIVEAWAY!
Author Susan Gunelius (former blogger here at One Book Two Book) visits Home Biz Notes for an interview and a giveaway of her book,  Harry Potter, The Story of a Global Business Phenomenon.  This is in celebration of the release of her book in the United States today, August 19.
To participate in the giveaway and read the interview, check out:
Giveaway of the Harry Potter Phenomenon Book by Susan Gunelius
Susan Gunelius: Exploring the Harry Potter Phenomenon
(Amazon image; click here for details)
(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

OneBookTwoBook.com

Are you and your children Harry Potter fans?  Perhaps you’d like to learn more about the whole phenomenon that spawned a global fan base.
Susan Gunelius, author of Harry Potter, The Story of a Global Business Phenomenon, will visit Home Biz Notes, on Tuesday, August 19, the day her book is launched in the United States.
You won’t want to miss this upcoming interview with Susan, also a b5 blogger at Brand Curve and Play Library.  We learn how and why she wrote the story concerning the phenomenal marketing strategy that made Harry Potter a brand name and fantastic success. 
We shall be featuring a …read more

OneBookTwoBook.com

As we travel “around the world” this week, in keeping with the theme at One Book Two Book, we may want to look at “traveling green.”  You may be traveling vicarously, planning future travel, or actually traveling. 
However, consider:
“Going green,” ” traveling green,” wearing “green”, in fact, anything “green” that helps save the environment has become a very popular word. We teach our children to be conscious of the environment.  So a new blog at b5media, Traveling the Green Way should fit right in with current worldwide interests.
Liz Lewis, my co-blogger at Alzheimer’s Notes, now writes this  very interesting and informative new …read more