Brock: One of the biggest trends I’ m watching is the continued growth of highly visual storytelling— graphic novels, illustrated chapter books, comics and books that blend traditional text with strong visual elements. Kids are comfortable consuming information visually, and I think publishers should recognize that without assuming it means kids cannot or will not read.
I’ m also watching the demand for interactive content. Families are looking for books that create conversations and shared experiences, not simply books that send a child off to read alone. That is one reason formats built around questions, challenges, experiments, activities and family discussion are so interesting to me.
Parents are also looking for trustworthy content. There is a tremendous amount of media available to children, and parents cannot possibly preview everything. Christian publishers and Christian bookstores have an opportunity to become trusted curators for families.
Families want books that are fun enough for their kids to actually want to read, but meaningful enough for parents to feel good about putting them in their hands.
They are also increasingly looking for books that help children understand their faith in the real world— books that address identity, friendship, courage, anxiety, technology, science, biblical literacy and the big questions kids are asking. One of my latest books, Would You Rather? devotionals, creates easy opportunities for families to have discussions around Bible stories and people. They’ ll learn, laugh and discover more about what they believe as a family.
How have screens, social media, audiobooks and other forms of entertainment affected children’ s books? Brock: Children’ s books are competing for attention in a way they never have before. A book is no longer just competing with another book on the shelf. It is competing with YouTube, video games, streaming services, social media, podcasts, audiobooks and whatever new thing appeared on a kid’ s screen this morning.
Photo Courtesy of Logos Bookstore of Dallas
I don’ t necessarily see all of those formats as the enemy, though. They have changed the pace kids are used to, and that means authors and publishers have to work harder to create books that are immediately engaging and visually compelling. Strong cover design, great illustration, humor, shorter chapters, interactive elements, graphic novels, comics and highly accessible nonfiction can all help invite kids into reading.
Audiobooks can be especially helpful because they are still introducing children to storytelling and language. In many cases, an audiobook may be the bridge that eventually leads a reluctant reader to the physical book.
The goal shouldn’ t simply be to make books imitate screens. Books have something screens cannot fully replace: they ask children to imagine. A child reading a great story becomes part of creating the world in their own mind. That is an incredibly valuable muscle to keep exercising.
And books also provide a real opportunity for relationshipbuilding. Whether reading a book to a child in your lap at bedtime or gathering around the kitchen counter for some hands-on Fizzlebop experiments and devotions, these are the moments where relationships are built. You can help parents and grandparents be the trusted adults kids turn to for answers, instead of social media or YouTube celebrities. Give them a great book to enjoy together!
40 CRA today / www. christianretailassociation. org