With additional reporting by Chris Lundy and Brenda Ruggiero
Books can be great add-on items in a toy store, especially for occasions like birthday parties and baby showers. And, many stores have success setting up a book corner with lots of options for their customers to browse. Whatever your strategy, the books below were named best-sellers by retailers interviewed by TDmonthly Magazine in December 2014. Take a look and see if any of them sound like they'd be a good fit for your store.
*No manufacturer paid to be included in this list. All products listed were designated by editorial staff without regard to the company's relationship with TOYDIRECTORY.com/TDmonthly Magazine.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by ABRAMS BOOKS
Published under the Amulet Books imprint, this “novel in cartoons” by Jeff Kinney chronicles the experiences of an unlikely hero, Greg Heffley, who finds himself thrust into middle school, where undersized weaklings share the hallways with kids who are taller, meaner and already shaving. Greg tries to use his best friend’s popularity to his advantage, kicking off a chain of events that tests their friendship in hilarious fashion. The book features approximately 300 black-and-white illustrations. — It is “a completely unique approach to middle-grade fiction — combining hilarious diary-style narrative with web comic art,” Valerie Ralph, in publicity for Abrams Books, told TDmonthly. Launch date: April 2007. - “For the younger reader, the best seller is “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” by Jeff Kinney,” Jessica Wood, buyer for Northshire Bookstore in Manchester Center, Vt., told TDmonthly in November 2008. — Barbara Fineblum, owner of Barstons Childs Play in Rockville, Md., told TDmonthlyin a December 2014 interview that Diary of a Wimpy kid books are best-sellers at her store.
"Beautiful Oops" by Barney Saltzberg by WORKMAN PUBLISHING
A life lesson that all parents want their children to learn: It's OK to make a mistake. In fact, hooray for mistakes! A mistake is an adventure in creativity, a portal of discovery. A spill doesn't ruin a drawing—not when it becomes the shape of a goofy animal. And an accidental tear in your paper? Don't be upset about it when you can turn it into the roaring mouth of an alligator. Barney Saltzberg, the effervescent spirit behind Good Egg, offers a one-of-a-kind interactive book that shows young readers how every mistake is an opportunity to make something beautiful. A singular work of imagination, creativity, and paper engineering, Beautiful Oops! is filled with pop-ups, lift-the-flaps, tears, holes, overlays, bends, smudges, and even an accordion "telescope"—each demonstrating the magical transformation from blunder to wonder. The smudge becomes the face of a bunny, a crumpled ball of paper turns into a lamb's fleecy coat—celebrate the oops in life. — Emily Bieritz, manager of The Toy Box in Amherst, Mass., told TDmonthly in a December 2014 interview that Beautiful Oops is one of the best-selling books at their store.
Micawber by John Lithgow by SIMON AND SCHUSTER CHILDREN'S PUBLISHING DIVISION
A squirrel named Micawber loves the paintings he sees through the windows of the nearby art museum. One day he notices an artist copying the old masters, and he decides to do the same — with surprising results. In their second collaboration, best-selling author-illustrator team John Lithgow and C. F. Payne introduce children to the world of art through the eyes — and paint-splattered tail — of a highly creative squirrel. Micawber, a squirrel fascinated by art, leaves a museum with an art student and secretly uses her supplies to make his own paintings. — Emily Bieritz, manager of The Toy Box in Amherst, Mass., told TDmonthlyin a December 2014 interview that Micawber is one of the best-selling books at their store.
A delightfully festive touchy-feely book with simple, repetitive text. Bright, colorful illustrations with textures to touch and feel on every page. Helps very young children develop language and sensory skills. Series awarded "Best Buy" by readers of Prima magazine. A perfect seasonal gift for young children. — Syd Clarke, owner of Ali-Cat in Carrboro, N.C., told TDmonthly in a December 2014 interview that That's Not My Snowman is one of the best-selling books at their store.
Spot Says Goodnight by Eric Hill by PENGUIN GROUP USA
Spot's only full-length lift-the-flap bedtime story is now available as a board book. Spot's had a busy day, and now it's time for bed. Time to put his toys away, to take a bath and to say goodnight to his mom and dad and his cat, Ginger. At last, looking out at the moon, Spot wonders if there's anyone else to say goodnight to. "Oh yes," he says, "Goodnight, me." This charming bedtime book is perfect for easing toddlers off to sweet dreams. — Syd Clarke, owner of Ali-Cat in Carrboro, N.C., told TDmonthly in a December 2014 interview that Spot books from Putnam are some of the best-sellers at their store.
Discover the secrets of chemistry, and learn about the properties of matter and the ways in which they interact, combine and change. Chemistry is a compelling guide to a community of characters who make up everything around us. — SimplyScience’s Shirley loved the book’s “funny (and accurate) introduction to the periodic table.” She imagined “the kid who is fascinated with science picking up this small trim-sized book, reading it, and showing it to all his/her friends.” — Despite some issues with the book’s organization, Roberta Gibson of Wrapped in Foil found that the book makes chemistry concepts “fresh and interesting” by presenting the terms as characters. She loved that “The sections are written in the first person from that character’s point of view, and each section stands on its own.”
Ultimate Sticker Book: Frozen by DK PUBLISHING INC.
Aspiring princesses everywhere are sure to love the new Ultimate Sticker Book: Frozen from DK. Packed with more than 60 exciting reusable stickers featuring beloved characters and icons from Frozen, kids will be able re-create their favorite scenes from the movie while learning fun and interesting movie facts along the way. — Paul Sahagian, owner of Learning Express in Needham, Mass., told TDmonthly in a December 2014 interview that Ultimate Sticker Book: Frozen is one of the best-selling books at their store.
Journey to the Ice Palace Disney Frozen Jumbo Coloring Book by RANDOM HOUSE INC.
Disney's Frozen is a computer-animated musical comedy-adventure in which a young princess named Anna is cursed by her estranged sister, the coldhearted Snow Queen Elsa. Anna's only hope of reversing the curse is to survive a perilous but thrilling journey across an icy landscape. Joined by a rugged, thrill-seeking outdoorsman, his one-antlered reindeer, and a hapless snowman, Anna must race against time, conquer the elements, and battle an army of menacing snowmen if she ever hopes to melt Elsa's frozen heart. Boys and girls ages 3–7 will love to join in the adventure with this 96-page coloring and activity book based on the hit movie and featuring a foil and embossed cover! — Paul Sahagian, owner of Learning Express in Needham, Mass., told TDmonthly in a December 2014 interview that this Frozen Coloring book is one of the best-selling books at their store.
Welcome to the Museum is a series of books set on the "walls" of the printed page, showcasing the world's finest collections of objects — from natural history to art. Open 365 days a year and unrestricted by the constraints of physical space, each title in this series is organized into galleries that display more than 200 full-color specimens accompanied by lively, informative text. Offering hours of learning, this first title within the series — Animalium — presents the animal kingdom in glorious detail with illustrations from Katie Scott, an unparalleled new talent. Published by the imprint Big Picture Press under Candlewick Press in the USA. — Peg Scholtes, owner of Capitol Kids LTD in Madison, Wis., told TDmonthly in a December 2014 interview that Ultimate Animalium by Jenny Broom is one of the best-selling books at their store.
The Book with No Pictures by BJ Novak by PENGUIN GROUP USA
You might think a book with no pictures seems boring and serious. Except...here's how books work. Everything written on the page has to be said by the person reading it aloud. Even if the words say...BLORK. Or BLUURF. Even if the words are a preposterous song about eating ants for breakfast, or just a list of astonishingly goofy sounds like BLAGGITY BLAGGITY and GLIBBITY GLOBBITY. Cleverly irreverent and irresistibly silly, The Book with No Pictures is one that kids will beg to hear again and again. (And parents will be happy to oblige.) — Peg Scholtes, owner of Capitol Kids LTD in Madison, Wis., told TDmonthly in a December 2014 interview that The Book with No Pictures by BJ Novak is one of the best-selling books at their store.
Writer's Bio: Justina Huddleston graduated Magna Cum Laude from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing in 2009. After graduating she was the on-site director of the Boston Children's Museum gift store for a year, selling educational, developmental, and creative activity toys that tied in with the museum's exhibits. Justina also interned at children's book publisher Candlewick Press before moving from Boston to Los Angeles, where she is now Editorial Director of TDmonthly Magazine. Read more articles by this author
Writer's Bio: Justina Huddleston graduated Magna Cum Laude from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature, and Publishing in 2009. After graduating she was the on-site director of the Boston Children's Museum gift store for a year, selling educational, developmental, and creative activity toys that tied in with the museum's exhibits. Justina also interned at children's book publisher Candlewick Press before moving from Boston to Los Angeles, where she is now Editorial Director of TDmonthly Magazine. Read more articles by this author
