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Maybe we don't see this debate in adult literature or even YA but when it comes to children's books (PB, MG, etc.), it seems like there's a fine line between a gimmick and hook.
Some editors describe gimmicks as "an attention-getting element that does little more than get attention. It is a contrivance that seems to add value without actually adding value. It distracts the consumer from the question of whether she really wants the product in her hands."
I bring all of this up because since I've registered to attend Book Expo of America in Los Angeles, I've been getting all kinds of postcards from publishers begging me to visit their booths. A few days ago, I got a shiny red and white card for a book about a dog who smells a color.
I didn't think much of it until I came to the line that says, "What makes [this] book series so unique is its Press-2-Sniff technology that enables readers to actually smell what [the dog] smells. Cleverly embedded within the pages of the book, it's innovative scent-dispensing packets are good for 50,000 sniffs and contain safe, non-toxic scents that truly mimic real life smells like a fresh-picked rose or juicy strawberries."
This may be a fun book to buy for your children at home but the library where I work gets a headache when books like this are released.
It isn't just a matter of finding the money in our budget to buy the book. We'd have to think long term and find out the cost of purchasing extra scent packets. Technical Services would have the task of figuring out how to bind and package such a product to display on our shelves. Circulation Services would want to know if the packets sustain heavy weight and damage in the book drop bins. Parents would want to know is this really safe? The library's Focus Group and Public Relations committee would want to weigh in on the positives and negatives of adding such a book to the library's collection. The Library Board would probably revise the library's Collection Development Policy to include books that "dispense scents" and the list goes on...
Suffice it to say, I don't know whether or not a book like this is a gimmick or a hook but this much I can say--my library steers clear from books like this. We're just getting on board with felt/board books for the 0-2 age group! Sad to say but it's true.
Too bad...maybe next year our library will be on board with the Press-2-Sniff technology. In the meantime, if you've got a kid who loves scratch-n-sniff stickers, this book may provide reading and smelling enjoyment.
Some editors describe gimmicks as "an attention-getting element that does little more than get attention. It is a contrivance that seems to add value without actually adding value. It distracts the consumer from the question of whether she really wants the product in her hands."
I bring all of this up because since I've registered to attend Book Expo of America in Los Angeles, I've been getting all kinds of postcards from publishers begging me to visit their booths. A few days ago, I got a shiny red and white card for a book about a dog who smells a color.
I didn't think much of it until I came to the line that says, "What makes [this] book series so unique is its Press-2-Sniff technology that enables readers to actually smell what [the dog] smells. Cleverly embedded within the pages of the book, it's innovative scent-dispensing packets are good for 50,000 sniffs and contain safe, non-toxic scents that truly mimic real life smells like a fresh-picked rose or juicy strawberries."
This may be a fun book to buy for your children at home but the library where I work gets a headache when books like this are released.
It isn't just a matter of finding the money in our budget to buy the book. We'd have to think long term and find out the cost of purchasing extra scent packets. Technical Services would have the task of figuring out how to bind and package such a product to display on our shelves. Circulation Services would want to know if the packets sustain heavy weight and damage in the book drop bins. Parents would want to know is this really safe? The library's Focus Group and Public Relations committee would want to weigh in on the positives and negatives of adding such a book to the library's collection. The Library Board would probably revise the library's Collection Development Policy to include books that "dispense scents" and the list goes on...
Suffice it to say, I don't know whether or not a book like this is a gimmick or a hook but this much I can say--my library steers clear from books like this. We're just getting on board with felt/board books for the 0-2 age group! Sad to say but it's true.
Too bad...maybe next year our library will be on board with the Press-2-Sniff technology. In the meantime, if you've got a kid who loves scratch-n-sniff stickers, this book may provide reading and smelling enjoyment.
