Children's Book Business Expected to Drop Again in 2009

Books for children and young adults are set for a drop in 2009, marking their second decline in as many years, according to Children's Publishing Market Forecast 2009, a new research report from media industry forecast and analysis firm Simba Information.

"The profound economic pressures felt by American consumers will lead them toward buying fewer books, or even no books at all," said Michael Norris, senior analyst of Simba Information's Trade Books Group.

Growth is also being hampered by changes in the consumer book retailing landscape. The growing number of big-box stores and the shrinking number of physical bookstores is putting the squeeze on the largest bookstore chains and publishers alike. "Publishers are beginning to pay the price for allowing retailers with no real stake in the future of print books to grow as powerful as they have become," said Norris.

Children's Publishing Market Forecast also covers new ground by showing the nuances between books for young children and books for young adults. "The enormous success of young adult titles from Stephenie Meyer and others has painted a misleading picture of the industry," Norris said. "A smaller percentage of teens are reading now compared to 15 years ago, and data suggests adults are buying some of these sorts of books. While every sale is a good one, YA books may be to publishing what the PG-13 rating is to Hollywood."

In addition to providing analysis and overview for this segment of publishing, CPMF 2009 provides, for the first time, a five year overview of more than a dozen leading children's and young adult categories, providing the industry with an exclusive guide to demand. The report also features a thorough overview of the leading authors, books and imprints over a two year period; allowing trends and patterns to be seen.

The report also contains demographic data on children's book buyers, which completes the picture of this complicated market by exposing who the consumers really are. Additional information can be found at http://www.simbainformation.com/.