Why are skinny books all the rage in some children’s literary circles?
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At more than a few writers conferences, skinny books are all the buzz – particularly in non-fiction circles. So what are skinny books? They’re thin – typically 28 pages – with glossy covers and plenty of illustrations or photographs. They’re typically stapled together, but they can be bound by glue. They’re often used in non-fiction, particularly biography, history and science, but are also found in fiction. If you think that skinny books are tough to define, you’re right, but here’s what really makes them “skinny”: they have fewer pages or words than other books in their category, whether they be picture or chapter books.
One reason skinny books work well in non-fiction is that they can be crammed full of information, tidbits and trivia without taking up much room or losing much narrative quality. However, hundreds of books are created or re-released as skinny books and manage to maintain complete story lines and character development.
Why Skinny Books Are Popular
- Kids think they’re a quick read.
- Readers can consume plenty of information in easy-to-digest format.
- They can easily be serialized.
- They are sold at an affordable, trade price.
The downside, of course, is that you don’t often see them in libraries. They’re not durable. The covers often tear off easily with repeated readings or mistreatment. Fortunately, they’re cheap to replace if you need to buy another one for your young reader.
Well, that’s the skinny on skinny books.
