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Amazon buys Goodreads: "That's what all you morons get for sharing your books online."

3/29/2013

I just read this well compiled piece from Shelf Awareness, a free newsletter we highly recommend:

http://www.shelf-awareness.com/issue.html?issue=1959#m19471

Amazon Buying Goodreads: Industry ReactionsAmazon is buying the popular book-focused social networking site Goodreads, which was founded in 2007 and now has more than 16 million members. The acquisition is expected to close by July. Goodreads' headquarters will remain in San Francisco, and its management is expected to stay in place.

As the leading social networking site devoted to books, GoodReads has been considered an important element in addressing the "discoverability" problem that grew with spread of e-books and Amazon and the collapse of Borders: How would readers discover books if fewer of them were visiting the best source for learning about new books, bricks-and-mortar bookstores?

In one fell swoop, Amazon, whose algorithms for recommending books have shown limited effectiveness, now owns one of the major tools built to address the problem it created.

On the Goodreads blog, CEO and co-founder Otis Chandler said the site "will continue to be the wonderful community that we all cherish. We plan to continue offering you everything that you love about the site--the ability to track what you read, discover great books, discuss and share them with fellow book lovers, and connect directly with your favorite authors--and your reviews and ratings will remain here on Goodreads. And it's incredibly important to us that we remain a home for all types of readers, no matter if you read on paper, audio, digitally, from scrolls, or even stone tablets."

But judging from the reaction of booksellers, publishers and some Goodreads users, the process may not be so easy. The overwhelming feeling expressed yesterday on Twitter and Facebook was surprise and disappointment. ‏@NextGenAuthors tweeted us: "Hey, your April Fool's edition doesn't come out until Monday!" Many indies and their fans promptly cancelled their accounts.

The question is how a site that was prized for its independence and noncommercial cred will fare as a part of the Amazon empire. As one person commented on Otis Chandler's own blog on Goodreads: "I liked/would prefer a community of readers not backed by someone with motives to a) unrelentingly mine my data and b) sell me stuff."

In response to Chandler's comment that "We truly could not think of a more perfect partner for Goodreads as we both share a love of books and an appreciation for the authors who write them," Jarek Steele of Left Bank Books, St. Louis, Mo., wrote on his blog: "Really, Goodreads? You've forsaken all the other opportunities to partner with independent bookstores, Kobo, even Barnes & Noble & the Nook? How about iPad? Also, who at Amazon has a love of books or authors?"

The Amazon record concerning book world companies it's purchased isn't encouraging. While some non-book purchases, like Zappos, have remained independent and fared well, some book purchases are either merged into Amazon World or left to die on the Internet vine, such as Lexcycle and, most tellingly, Shelfari, which, like Goodreads, is a social media site focused on books.

Only last year, Amazon and Goodreads had a public fight that led to Goodreads choosing to use Ingram data instead of Amazon's because of Amazon's requirement that its data not link to another retailer. There was no word on how this might change.

Goodreads has also been marked by a kind of openness that runs contrary to Amazon's penchant for secret. Otis Chandler has spoken at many conferences, giving details about site usage, and Goodreads shares information with publishers. It's likely all that will change very soon.

The move also adds to the sense that Amazon is slowly buying up much of the book world. Over some 15 years, the company has bought AbeBooks.com, Audible.com, Brilliance Audio, the Book Depository, Shelfari, BookFinder.com, Lexcycle, BookSurge, CreateSpace, Mobipocket.com and (through AbeBooks) 40% of Library Thing.

Wired summed up this feeling well, beginning its story on the Amazon purchase of Goodreads with this: "Amazon looked back to its roots in bookselling and forward to its future as the global overlord of all reading and writing by announcing its plan today to purchase social reading site Goodreads."

Forbes called the move a slap in the face of publishers, writing that it's no coincidence that the deal came seven weeks after Penguin, Hachette and Simon & Schuster launched Bookish.

"It's a brilliant move by Amazon," Mike Shatzkin of the Idea Logical Co. told the Wall Street Journal. "If you are a book marketer, the two places you think about the most in terms of online marketing opportunities are Amazon and Goodreads." He added, "It makes me question whether Amazon's competitors are awake. How could they let this happen?"

And in his inimitable style, Knopf's Paul Bogaards tweeted, "That's what all you morons get for sharing your books online."

We haven't had a chance to think through the consequences, but I certainly feel betrayed: we've been building our Goodreads community recently, but really didn't expect it would land in Amazon land!

What do you think? Let us know.

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Fighting the Stigma Against Comics

3/14/2013

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by Alexa Rosselli

In her recent article in the Journal of the American Association of School Librarians, Karen Gavigan triumphantly announces, "Fortunately the tide [against comics] has turned, thanks to a growing body of research and soaring graphic-novel circulation statistics that cannot be ignored." But while fans of comics know this is the truth, there are those who continue to ignore it. The fight is not yet won.

The drive to convince naysayers into yay-sayers is one that comic fans face both personally and professionally on a day to day basis. Gavigan says the merits of comics as tools to literacy are undeniable, but we all have to acknowledge the importance of visual literacy.

Elizabeth E. G. Friese wrote an article entitled "Visual Narratives" in the Journal of the American Association of School Librarians, in which she describes how she came to learn this key point. She says, "I admit it; I used to think this way myself. I thought of graphic novels as a gateway to 'more legitimate' reading - until, of course, I sat down and actually read one." She describes how as she read through Marjane Satrapi's Persepolis, she was confused about what was going on, that is, until she realized the way she was reading was what caused her confusion.

"I honestly didn't understand half of what was going on in the book because I was reading only the words. I wasn't reading the pictures. I realized that I prized the word over the picture as both a reader and a teacher."
—Elizabeth E. G. Friese, educational researcher

The way she was reading, as a reader primarily of traditional books, affected her ability to both understand and appreciate the content of a graphic novel. Once she slowed down to take in the meaning in the images, she was a convert. "Illustrations," Friese continues, "aren't a stage in writing that students should be encouraged to leave behind. Instead, illustrations can add another layer of depth and meaning to a writer's text." Friese sees the merits of books that are both visual and verbal beyond just picture books.

"Fortunately the tide has turned, thanks to a growing body of research and soaring graphic-novel circulation statistics that cannot be ignored."
-Karen Gavigon, American Association of School Librarians

"Illustrations can add another layer of depth and meaning to a writer's text."
—Elizabeth E. G. Friese, educational researcher

With so many parents and librarians on our side, it is easy to forget at times that comics and graphic novels are not yet universally accepted. Jess Kipp, a parent of three young readers, exclaims, "I wasn't a big comic book reader as a child, but I have really enjoyed watching my three children (ages 3, 5, and 7) absolutely devour them! I now go to the library expressly searching for graphic novels and comics for them all." Comics are clearly effective in getting kids excited about reading, and so parents like Jess are convinced of their merit. In a recent post on School Library Journal's website, Elizabeth Burns explains this importance giving readers what they want. Librarians, as gatekeepers to literature for young children, use this enthusiasm in building their collections.

"The fact that TOON books are leveled gives automatic 'legitimacy' in the eyes of many educators who might otherwise not consider them."
—Laura Given, librarian

Laura Given explains how her comic collection has grown in her time as a librarian. "I've been building my library collection of GNs and comics for over 10 years. A lot has changed in that time as far as reviews and acceptance in the education world. Two great things that sell TOON books to those who are still reluctant about using comics and graphic novels as 'real books' are what you have done with leveling that really works with how schools use books as part of a reading curriculum, and the (well deserved) shiny medals like the Geisel award on the front. My district uses the Fountas and Pinnell guided reading levels in our curriculum. The fact that TOON books are leveled gives automatic 'legitimacy' in the eyes of many educators who might otherwise not consider them."

Laura, like Karen Gavigan, sees how the tide is turning. Legitimizing our books as educational tools has always been one of our most hard fought endeavors here at TOON. But the stigma still exists and inhibits the efforts of both parents and educators. Meredith Dixon Randazzo, a parent of a young graphic novel reader, shared with us the struggle she and her son face. "My son has to read a book every week for Accelerated Reader in school - but a lot of the ones he reads aren't accepted in the system." [Note: we make sure, at TOON Books, to have all our books entered in the Accelerated Reader program.]
In our meetings with teachers who are ardent supporters of the form, they talk about how difficult it still is to convince colleagues or school administration of the merits of comics.

While the notion of comics as a gateway to traditional literacy has been extremely useful in introducing wary traditionalists to the benefits of comics, focusing solely on that aspect underplays the importance of visual literacy. Friese saw these benefits firsthand as an adult who learned to look at pictures for information, then applied her findings in her work as an educational researcher. When we can integrate comics starting at an elementary school age and through the grade school system, we nurture the true visual literacy that is needed in the 21st century. If the turn of the tide is recognizing the merits, the result of it will be a new generation of readers who are skilled in "a more sophisticated, multimodal form of reading," as Friese dubbed it.

"Graphic novels have the advantage of combining rich, inventive illustrations with simple language in a format that makes for storytelling that is far superior to most ordinary early readers."
—Eli Rector, parent and teacher

"My son has to read a book every week for Accelerated Reader in school - but a lot of the ones he reads aren't accepted in the system."
-Meredith Dixon Randazzo, parent

Eli Rector, who is both a parent and a kindergarten/first grade teacher, champions this kind of storytelling in his classroom. "Graphic novels have the advantage of combining rich, inventive illustrations with simple language in a format that makes for storytelling that is far superior to most ordinary early readers. Both my daughters love them, and they are a big favorite at story time and solo reading." We love that people like Eli are using and documenting this new approach to literacy education. Until his practices are more commonplace, the fight to legitimize comics, especially in the early grades, continues. Fortunately, powerful allies are joining us, as you can see in the photo below, sent by one of our fans.

Photos courtesy of TOON Books supporters who entered our recent giveaway.

Don't forget: TOON into Reading, Cluck Cluck!

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"If Frederic Wertham was still alive, he'd die of a heart attack." —art spiegelman

3/1/2013

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by Alexa Rosselli

As Julia Phillips reviewed here in a blog post last week, there has been a lot of press lately about the educational benefits of comics. We are glad to see this happen — with the help of parents and educators, soon more kids will 'TOON into reading!' But to better understand how massive a change is needed before comics are widely accepted as a tool for literacy, it may be helpful to remember the past...

Comics in the classroom? We're slowly getting there, but it wasn't always thus. Back in 1954, at the prompting of Dr. Wertham and his bestselling Seduction of the Innocent, there were Senate Subcommittee Hearings into Juvenile Delinquency, with a special focus on Comic Books.

Many TOON Books fans recently shared their personal experiences with us, and some vividly remember the stigma attached to comics. Growing up in the 50's, David Wade Smith met the response typical at the time: "I started first grade early, and I had trouble with reading. During the summer between grade 1 and grade 2, however, I suddenly caught on. That fall, my teacher, the same one I'd had in grade 1, remarked on the improvement in my reading skills— I was reading at 4th-grade level. She asked me how I'd learned to read over the summer, and I said, "Comic books."

[My teacher] asked me how I'd learned to read over the summer, and I said, 'Comic books.'
--David Wade Smith

"A disapproving expression appeared on her face, and I realized that there were people who didn't see comics as a good thing and I would have to be careful who I told that I read them (though my own mother was OK with them). This was in 1951, of course, when comics were beginning to be viewed as a corrupter of youth--though Scrooge McDuck had nothing on Donald Trump."

"I realized...
I would have to be careful who I told that I read [comics].
—David Wade Smith

The stigma around comics has lingered for a long time and it's only in the past ten or twetny years, after comics, now called "Graphic Novels" have been accepted in bookstores, librairies, and museums, that they are making an inroad into the hands of young children. (Over 90% of children growing up in the US in the 50's read and loved comics, which is why Wertham was able to conduct a witch hunt on such a scale.) David's story resonated with a number of others in the Facebook thread. John Moore responded about his son, who he was told had a learning disability...

"Teachers told me that they could not figure out how to get my son to read - they said he had a "learning disability." I started reading him X-Men comics at bed time- when i wasn't available to read to him, he would read them himself by sticking it all together by memory. Now he reads with no problem."

"Teachers told me that [my son] had a "learning disability." I started him reading X-men comics at bed time."
—John Moore

While we are extremely pleased that John was able to help his son with comics, it's unfortunate to hear him say he didn't receive support from his child's school. Still, attitudes are changing, and we do everything we can to make sure the trend keeps turning. Thanks to a few enlightened educators, parents who appreciate comics can often now find allies in the schools.

The mother of three young readers, Cheryl Urasaki was one of the lucky ones: "I love the concept of graphic novels for early readers. My oldest son was a reluctant reader, but enjoyed the Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Captain Underpants books. My daughter likes the Geronimo Stilton books... I think anything that captures kids' attention and gets them reading is a good thing. I discussed this with one of my kids' teachers, and she feels the same."

"I think anything that gets [kids] reading is a good thing. One of my kids' teachers... feels the same."
—Cheryl Urasaki

Jenifer Wagner, a children's librarian, can appreciate the change in attitude: "I adore the TOON books. I learned to read loving comic books and had to buy them all as libraries didn’t have any." Now librarians are at the forefront of the newfound appreciation of comics.

Some parents, like Thy Vo, are even educated about the benefits of comics at the library: "To tell the truth I didn't know anything about TOON Books until I attended a workshop at our local library where the speaker was a professor at a college. Anyway, he encourages parents to instill the love of reading to the kids and somehow he mentioned TOON books as the new "trend" of style. So I searched on the internet and came to the blog and knew about the giveaway. I have a son who is in kindergarten right now and loves to read. I had a chance to take him to Barnes and Noble and saw the display of TOON books. He quickly flipped through the pages and started reading. He enjoys reading all the passages that was in the book. So I figure I should try purchasing these TOON Books for him. Hopefully with this trend becoming to be so popular, that there will be more new titles coming out so these little ones can continue to read this type of books."

Some parents have always loved comics and eager to share their passion with their children. Tyler Giesa is a case in point: "My son is a hyper literate 7 year old. I read him comics... and he drew comics before he could write. He "cracked the code" of reading pretty much by himself. I credit comics with connecting those pathways in the brain (the visual and verbal)."

"[My son] 'cracked the code' of reading pretty much by himself. I credit comics with connecting [visual and verbal] pathways in the brain ."
—Tyler Giesa

Comics can inspire such love for reading that they often shape an enthusiastic reader's future. In the words of David Wade Smith, who had to be careful about confessing his love for comics, he concluded his post thus: "For 35 years I've worked in literary publishing, before that for 10 years I managed bookstores. Dell and DC deserve a lot of credit for my life's path."

"For 35 years I've worked in literary publishing, before that for 10 years I managed bookstores. Dell and DC deserve a lot of credit for my life's path."
—David Wade Smith

TOON into Reading!
Drawing by Barry Blitt; Photos courtesy of books4yourkids.com and of TOON Books supporters who entered our recent giveaway.

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Amazon buys Goodreads: "That's what all you morons get for sharing your books online."

Fighting the Stigma Against Comics

Don't forget: TOON into Reading, Cluck Cluck!

"If Frederic Wertham was still alive, he'd die of a heart attack." —art spiegelman

TOON into Reading!
Drawing by Barry Blitt; Photos courtesy of books4yourkids.com and of TOON Books supporters who entered our recent giveaway.

TOON Books Blog

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Amazon buys Goodreads: "That's what all you morons get for sharing your books online."

Fighting the Stigma Against Comics

Don't forget: TOON into Reading, Cluck Cluck!

"If Frederic Wertham was still alive, he'd die of a heart attack." —art spiegelman

TOON into Reading! Drawing by Barry Blitt; Photos courtesy of books4yourkids.com and of TOON Books supporters who entered our recent giveaway.

TOON Books Blog

Categories

Archives

TOON into Reading!
Drawing by Barry Blitt; Photos courtesy of books4yourkids.com and of TOON Books supporters who entered our recent giveaway.