Order Deadline Monday for ABC Best Books for Children Catalog

Monday, August 27, is the deadline for ABA member stores to place orders for this year’s ABC Best Books for Children Catalog. Orders of up to 5,000 copies can be placed via an online order form [1]. For larger orders, stores should contact ABC Group Manager Shannon O’Connor via e-mail [2] or at (800) 637-0037, ext. 6651. 

All members of the ABC Children’s Group at ABA will automatically receive 250 catalogs with no imprinting; all other ABA member stores will automatically receive 20 catalogs with no imprinting.

This year’s catalog, the 20th edition, features cover art by William Joyce from his new book, The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore, published by Atheneum Books for Young Readers, a division of Simon & Schuster. More than 200 fully vetted titles [3] for young readers are included, as well as a special page of award-winning backlist books that celebrates perennial favorites by beloved children’s authors and illustrators who passed away this year.

Recent additions to the catalog are several Listening Library audiobooks; two titles from Cider Mill Press; and, at the suggestion of the ABC Group Advisory Council, two plush items from MerryMakers: a Penny doll [4], featured alongside Kevin Henkes’ new frontlist title, Penny and Her Doll; and a plush Rocket [5], listed alongside Tad Hills’ Rocket Writes a Story. 

MerryMakers plush is “an easy addition to our book sales, with margins that make our bottom line a happy place,” said ABC Council member Ann Seaton of Hicklebee’s [6] in San Jose, California. “This rounds out our catalog offerings.” 

Suzanna Hermans of Oblong Books & Music [7], which has locations in both Rhinebeck and Millerton, New York, said, “Children’s gift and toy items are a huge part of our business, and I’m thrilled to see the ABC Catalog include them.” 

As in years past, booksellers can use the catalog in a variety of creative ways [8] to drum up business.

This year’s catalog is made possible by the generous support of more than 35 large and small publishers and vendors. All items in the catalog are available through Ingram.

An updated list of the 2012 catalog offerings in Excel spreadsheet format is available to stores upon request [2]. A PDF version of the catalog, for use on store websites, is forthcoming.