Fourth Story Media

It’s been a busy month here at Fourth Story!

On May 18th, Lisa Holton spoke at MIT’s Sandbox Summit on a panel about innovative approaches in children’s digital books with Peter H. Reynolds (Children’s book author & illustrator and founder of FableVision), and Ben Vershbow (Digital Producer, NYPL), moderated by Alexandra Kennedy (Executive Director of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art).

And on May 26th, Ariel Aberg-Riger, spoke at YPulse’s Youth Marketing Mashup on the panel “Multimedia Narratives: Engaging Youth on Multiple Screens” with Jordan Levin (CEO, Generate), Craig Bland (VP Strategic Partnerships & Content, Alloy), and R. Eric Lieb (Partner, Blacklight Transmedia), moderated by Mashable’s Ben Parr.

Both panels (and conferences!) were incredibly invigorating, covering everything from new distribution models to the importance of authenticity to managing sustained engagement. But, as Publisher’s Weekly picked up in it’s coverage “Regardless of Screen, Story Still Matters” – no matter what shape the future may take, good storytelling remains at the core, possibly more important now than ever.

Publishers Weekly asked a number of children’s publishers, scouts, and editors (including FSM’s Lisa Holton) what they’re expecting at this year’s Bologna Children’s Book Fair (March 23-26). Some soundbytes:

Natasha Ferrant, Literary Scout: “There’s a real buzz about YA literature, which is tremendously exciting. I’m hoping to see less of the paranormal stuff and more good, original writing. Much as I love them—I do, I do—I don’t want to read any more vampire books, probably EVER AGAIN. What I really want to find is simple and oh so elusive: a strong middle-grade series with great writing and an even better story.”

Rob McMenemy, Senior VP Egmont English Language & Central Europe: “The digital agenda will loom even larger this year, taking more airtime and even more space, but we are fast approaching the point where it won’t be a separate agenda at all nor just an interesting sideshow, but rather an integral part of the business of publishing and rights.”

Lisa Holton, CEO Fourth Story: “I am going mainly to hear what my international colleagues are thinking about their business—how they publish, who they are publishing, and how they think the landscape—digital and print—is changing.”

Klaus Humann, Publisher Carlsen Verlag, Germany: “Our job as publishers had always been and will always be to take risks, invest into new authors, encourage them to write their first books and get them published. We are not paid to follow trends. We are paid to create them.”

Read the full piece in PW.

Jamie over on illustration blog Pikaland directed us to this amazing Flickr pool dedicated to vintage children’s book illustrations. We love the monkey (at right) from The Circus by Brian Wildsmith. Clicking around, we also found pools dedicated to vintage children’s book covers, Little Golden books, Wonder Books, and new and vintage pop-up books for children.