2011 Covers I Heart

Favorites of 2011--Part Three--Carol's Picks

Queen of Hearts by Martha Brooks
(FSG-BYR, 2011)

Four things that attract me to a book's cover:

1. Originality. How many photos of body parts will it take before the book-buying public and cover designers tire of it?

2. Kid Appeal. Sure, this is guesswork, but I try to choose covers that I think will draw the eyes of children and teens when they browse the shelves.

3. Graphic Appeal. Use of shape, form, negative space, etc. which create visually stimulating covers.

Wither (Book I of the Chemical
Garden Trilogy)
by Lauren DeStefano
(Simon and Schuster BYR, 2011)

4. Cuteness. Okay, I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for cute. Can't resist a mouse in a traveling suit. (See Richard Peck's latest, below.)

Love the way Wither's cover (above) incorporates both soft ruffles and clean, geometric lines.

Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck
Illus. Kelly Murphy
(Dial, 2011) 

Another clever cover from author/illustrator Oliver Jeffers incorporates both depth and whimsy.

Stuck by Oliver Jeffers
(Philomel, 2011)

This one (below) is just as visually clean and delightful inside as it is on the cover:

Just a Second: a Different Way
to Look at Time by Steve Jenkins
(Houghton-Mifflin, 2011)

Next year (next week), YOUR favorite covers of 2011! There's still time to tell us some of your faves in the comments below.

Wishing you happy reading in 2012!

Fantasy Favorites

As I perused the covers of many new releases for 2011, I started to make a list. When I reviewed my selections, I chastised myself for picking so many YA fantasy covers. Then, face-palm... hello. There's a reason I'm the "fantasy correspondent." So, never mind everything else. Here are my fantasy favorites for 2011.

I've been eyeing this one up for a while... wondering if I could work it into a post. The contrast between the translucent and solid body on this caught my attention, along with the shading of the sky and the water. Beautiful!

Published June 7th 2011 by HarperCollins

This one is simple yet eye catching. I love the way the light seems to shine through the egg.

Published April 26th 2011 by Balzer + Bray

I would love a dozen of these roses. (Could someone please let my husband know?) The bright colors on the deep black background draws me in.

Published March 8th 2011 by Simon Pulse

Published June 2nd 2011 by Orchard

No, not just because my favorite color is purple. On first glance, I thought this face was underwater. Then I focused on grass--or hair--or vines. I can't decide what is twisting its way across this cover, but I like the effect.

For some reason, I love eyes on book covers. Are we supposed to see one on this middle grade cover? The elements come together to give the impression of an eye...

Published June 21st 2011 by Bloomsbury USA Children's Books

I've enjoyed this year in book covers, and I hope you, Dear Readers, have too. Wishing you all a very happy 2012!

-PLB

Rolling Out The Favorites of 2011

Can you believe we are nearing the end of 2011? Reflecting back on the year in book covers was fun but challenging to pick just a few favorites.

For "cute" my favorite is Little Owl's Night. How can any one resist those big eyes?

Published by Penguin Group USA, Inc.

I can't help but feel like I am floating up in the air whenever I see this cover. And the e.e. cummings style title is appealing too.

 Published by Wendy Lamb Books, 2011

The next two YA are favorites because they are not typical.  

Great kaleidoscope effect. 

Poppy 2011

Does this one remind anyone of a YA version of the Giving Tree?

 by Nely Cab, Published by Author House, 2011

My top pick for 2011? That's easy:

Jacket design by Christine Kettner; Sunset image copyright Corbis

Published by Sandpiper, 2011

Send in your favorites! Don't worry, you don't have to pick just one. We'll post them all!

Best of 2011 ~~ Your Turn, Readers!

 As the year winds down, the three of us will be posting our favorite children's and young adult book covers published in 2011. Woo.

But we want to know yours. Double woo!

Your mission: Post the titles/authors/illustrators of your favorites of 2011 (how about the top five?) in the comments here and we'll compile them into a gorgeous, celebratory post in January. Can't wait to see what you've seen!