Your favorite children's book covers
A special request
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While digging around the internet for Sunday’s newsletter on Larry McMurtry and Beverly Cleary, I noticed a disturbing phenomenon. The cover from Runaway Ralph, which was a work of art in its original incarnation…
…has become something else in its current form:
I’d like to explore the phenomenon of changing (or not) book covers on enduring children’s books in my next column for the Chicago Tribune. I’m curious about a couple of things.
Which book covers do you remember and treasure from your own childhood? Have they been changed over time, or do they endure on the current editions?
What do you think about publishers updating covers for new generations and different sensibilities?
Please feel free to post any and all thoughts in the comments, or if you’re getting this via email, you can also reply to this message. If you have a comment, but would rather not see your first name in the newspaper and instead prefer anonymity, please let me know that as well.
Thanks for your help!
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The Dark is Rising series of 5 books by Susan Cooper from the late 1970's were great imaginative fantasy books, and I remember clearly the original covers. Searching online for newer & current editions, I see any number of tortured re-imaginings that lean more towards Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter.
Publishers do need to update covers for new generations of readers, but what I see says more about the times we live in and the darkness of current movies/tv/video games that publishers (I suppose) think kids need to relate to in order to pick up a book. I would love to see new covers of classic books that are based completely on the books themselves, but still reach out to a new reader without having to represent the books as part of the media culture kids live in.
Because isn't that what books are for? - to escape the world around us and immerse ourselves in a completely different and new world?
Golden books covers. Especially Little Red Riding Hood. I think the old ones were more arty. We are lucky to have golden Book collection on display at the Lake county Forest Preserve museum in Il. Liz S.