Neil Gaiman‘s The Graveyard Book has been been reprinted with a new paperback cover. One noticeable difference between the 2008 cover and the new one? The new one does not flash the Newbery Medal the book won in 2009.
According to Publishers Weekly, the golden award is “one of the few surefire ways” to increase sales in the children’s market. However, William Morrow associate publisher Jennifer Hart said that Gregg Kulick‘s design was meant to attract adult buyers.
Inkwood Books owner Leslie Reiner had this comment, in the article: “I can definitely say that a Newbery Medal on the cover would not be a selling point [for adults] and if I were in marketing I would not put it on the cover. Covers sell books, and I think of [Markus Zusak‘s] The Book Thief and how the cover works for adult and teens.” What do you think of this new cover?
On his blog, Gaiman called the adult edition “very pretty.” The Graveyard Book has made it back to The New York Times bestseller list. NPR selected the book as the inaugural title Back-Seat Book Club, a new feature aimed at youth.