Ordering Opens for ABC Best Books for Young Readers Catalog

ABA member stores can place their orders for this year’s ABC Best Books for Young Readers Catalog from now until September 1 via an online order form on BookWeb.org.

The full-color, 20-page consumer circular is slated to be in stores in early October. It will feature more than 200 frontlist and backlist titles for children and teens, all suggested by ABA member booksellers. The catalog carries no fourth-quarter branding so booksellers can use it throughout the year.

For the past several years, Octavia Books has distributed hundreds of ABC Best Books for Young Readers Catalogs via a local newspaper, Gambit Weekly, reaching homes throughout New Orleans. “Hopefully they’re coming to us because of it — it really puts our name out there,” said store co-owner Tom Lowenburg.

Octavia also stacks catalogs in the store and posts the digital version on its website, where customers can peruse titles for all ages based on the category of interest — including poetry, nonfiction, picture books, graphic novels, and more — and purchase books directly through Octavia.

“At the holiday time, it’s a good way for us to show that we have these great children’s books in the store. It’s a way that we can put out a really good-looking catalog, and afford to do it,” said Lowenburg. “These are titles selected by booksellers, so the quality of the selection is very good — not something generic, like what you’d find in a big box store.”

This year’s catalog cover, which was chosen by the ABC Advisory Council, features an illustration from I Wish You More, written by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld, published by Chronicle Books.

Members of the ABC Children’s Group at ABA (ABC Group) will automatically receive 250 free catalogs with no imprinting. ABA stores that have opted to receive the Children’s White Box mailing will automatically receive 20 free catalogs with no imprinting. The online order form is for purchasing additional catalogs, either imprinted or plain.

Additional catalogs are available in units of 500 copies. The cost for each additional 500-unit is $25 for ABC Group members and $35 for non-members, shipping included. The one-time plate cost for imprinting, if desired, is $75 for ABC Group members and $125 for non-members. (Full details are available on the order form.)

Orders up to 5,000 copies may be placed via the online form. For larger orders, stores should contact ABC Group Manager Matthew Zoni via e-mail or at (800) 637-0037, ext. 7551. ABA members interested in joining the ABC Group should contact Member Relationship Manager Catherine Cusick via e-mail or at (800) 637-0037, ext. 7566.