A Quest: To Find The Noisy Counting Book
Faithful readers know that I spend much of my blogtime committed to screaming and moaning about various titles that are out-of-print and shouldn’t be. First and foremost amongst these is The Noisy Counting Book by Susan Schade (illustrations by Jon Buller). I use this book with almost every toddler program I do and today I had a frightening thought. What if, someday, I leave the New York Public Library system? What if I end up at a different library somewhere? A library that doesn’t HAVE The Noisy Counting Book?
In a blind panic I started to see if I could buy a copy for myself off of Amazon. I don’t approve of going to Amazon unless the book you seek is looooong out of print, and lo and behold there it was . . . for $82.39. Undaunted I went to Alibris instead and there it is for a mere $56. That’s better without actually being any good. It’s $60 at Bookasaurus. $56 at Pricegrabber. $54 on Bookfinder. And eBay isn’t even selling the darn thing.
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Oh, Random House. I know you don’t always love me, but couldn’t we put aside our differences and republish this puppy? People are paying untold sums for it on the market today, and our only Reference copy somehow got colored in blue crayon.
Puh-leeeze?
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About Betsy Bird
Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.
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Oh, I love this one and have been wanting a reprint for awhile…
I support a reissue as well, put my name on the petition
Betsy, have you considered contacting either the author or the illustrator to see if they would have a copy to sell you? If they are like me, they don’t know WHAT to do with all the old copies getting dusty or moldy in the basement. Bet they would love for one of the books to find a good home:)
Christine Tripp
Oh my! Did I get you started on this, Betsy, or did your family send it to US, originally? I saw this morning’s blog entry and instantly went Ga-DUNK! Who knew that our copy would be gold-plated?!
Ah. The author and illustrator may or may not have copies. If they do they could probably sell them at a VAST profit. I know that they’re all for the republication of the book, but so far no go. And I only discovered it when I joined up with the Central Children’s Room. Before then I was innocent in the ways of Ga-DUNKing.
I sympathize with you, Betsy. I know there are many good books I wish weren’t out of print, too! I’m sorry it’s so expensive. I checked out abe dot com –the first place I go to for my out-of-print books–and the price wasn’t much better at $50. The people who have the book must really love it.
CherylRainfield.com/blog
It’s tough to get a reissue to work… often there’s a reason a book went OP (that is, a consumer-based reason). Just to judge from the cover and the little you’ve said about it, I would say that the look is a bit dated and the title doesn’t convey to people the fun that’s to be had inside. If the author is interested in selling the text rights and having the book re-illustrated, there may be a slim chance of putting it in the right editor’s hands.
It’s too bad there’s nowhere we can view the interior….
Tell me about it! I’ve talked with the illustrator in the past and I think (though I may just be putting words in his mouth) that he’d be willing to reillustrate it if needs be. That would suit me certainly. And if there weren’t a question of rights I’d be the first person to scan the pages. Maybe I should just videotape myself reading it to our Toddler Program instead. Oh where oh where is Lookybook when you need them?
Alert the publisher that you have a huge following who are already chomping at the bit to buy this book, multiple copies of this book, thanks to your recommendation, and they’ve got it presold by the hundreds if not thousands. Heck, my frog puppet is ready and rarin’ to go with the lily pad song as a follow-up after I read this book in a program. A petition? I’ll sign 🙂
I vote for reprint!!! I would be purchasing it for my grandson,
all baby showers and birthdays…if only it were available.