As the book fair season is all set to begin in the Middle East, there are encouraging signs that books are alive and well. Despite worries that physical books would be shelved for newer digital formats, or not exist at all, sales worldwide show encouraging signs.
In May 2023, Bloomsbury, the publisher of the Harry Potter series noted a 17 per cent increase in the sales of children’s books. This is a continuation of the rise in book sales during the pandemic.
In the Al Ain Book Festival of 2023, children’s books were noted as being the largest driver of sales. Similar data comes from North America and Asia.
The Muscat Book Fair held in February 2023 as well as the floating book exhibition, Logos Hope, that docked later in the year showcased a whole range of children’s books, all lapped up by enthusiastic children and their parents.
The reason why children’s books have become popular is not difficult to understand: they tap into a world of possibilities that a child is ready to explore, they have colourful pictures that stimulate the imagination, and they tell stories that are relatable and fun.
The fact that reading books is important to a child is well known. Data shows how much reading helps a growing child in stimulating the imagination, helping to cope with stress, and even giving them role models. This is in addition to more standard benefits like increasing vocabulary, developing attention span, and inculcating moral values.
A decade ago, physical books were seen to be almost on their way out. Facing tough competition from new forms of entertainment, the market was doubtful about the future of books in their present form.
Of course, the challenge today is how books can compete with technology to retain a child’s attention. The cartoons on a loop, the never-ending offerings on streaming services, and the reels on social media seem to make this challenge even more difficult.
As Publisher’s Weekly said, “audio is the only format gaining share across all super categories” of print, e-book, and audiobook.
It does not have to be so. In fact, technology offers a way in. As research suggests, influencers on social media are driving up sales of books by making young adults and children excited about new books and titles.
In fact, children’s book influencers are in a category of their own, with individuals offering suggestions of books, dividing them into themes and interests, and even inviting writers for interviews. Many of these influencers read books out aloud and have specific books for occasions.
These social media sites can be very useful in giving suggestions about readings, recommendations about reading levels, and even address cultural appropriateness.
As the ultimate aim is to make children read, it should not matter where they read and how they access this content. Technology and social media are now adding the necessary stimulus and encouraging children to pick up a book. This can only be good news.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
