Friday, August 22, 2008

USA vs. UK


Which is your favorite Yankee Girl book cover?









I love the American cover on the left, but the Europe cover stirs more emotion in me. Wonder why they opted for the kinder gentler cover for Americans?

17 comments:

Lana said...

I like the US one too.

Mary (Bookfan) said...

I've always wondered why the different covers. I was surprised that at least one of the Harry Potter books had a different title in Europe than the US. I brought back The Philosopher's Stone from Ireland (in 1999) only to see it titled The Sorcerer's Stone when it was published in the US. Interesting.

Tiffany Norris said...

I like the American one, too, but I'm not familiar with the book. Will you be reviewing it? :)

Amanda said...

I am assuming that they used a different cover for the US version because of the Confederate flag on the Europe version. The Confederate Flag is a controversial issue for many and I don't think they wanted to offend anyone. Or maybe they thought it would hurt sales to dislplay it promenantly on the cover. Interesting post though, thanks!

Isabel said...

I agree with Amanda!

Jeane said...

I prefer the European one. It seems to make more of a statement. But I don't know what the book is about.

SevenVillageIdiarts said...

I think we Americans have become such a visual/non-thinking society. I've been noticing the difference between picture books in the US and those in Italy, where my sister lives with her child and ours are WAY more interesting. It's almost like the pic. books in Italy are 50 years behind ours. . .very simple and quite boring. My kids wouldn't even crack the books there AT ALL. Ours are just more visually stimulating. Maybe because of TV/Video games, illustrators have a lot to compete with. . .book jackets have to look pretty and not necessarily make people think?! I would love to hear what this book is about, too. . .It looks good to me, in either cover!

April said...

I agree exactly. I love the US cover and think that it is a bit more child appealing. The the other has more of a powerful punch to it.
I am hoping to get to read this fairly soon. I really loved Jimmy's Stars and this sounds like a great read also.
Also, I received Finn yesterday!!!! Thank you soooo much, Maggie!!

Clair said...

I like the yellow cover better.

Sam said...

I think Amanda is probably right about the difference in covers...but the flag background is exactly what appeals to me about the European version of the cover. It is just much more dramatic than the U.S. one.

jeff said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
sage said...

I'm agreeing with Amanda too. I think the Confederate battle flag is just too hot to put on a children's book. I know the book "Baptized in Blood" (by Charles Reagan Wilson) which is about the rise of the "lost cause cult" of the south, has the battle flag on the paperback issue that I own, but that's more of a scholarly work and not intended for children.

Nicole said...

My favorite is the American one, I don't really know why, it just appeals to me more.

Iliana said...

It's always so interesting to see the difference in covers between U.S. and Europe. I also agree with Amanda on why not go with the Confederate flag on the U.S. cover.

Looking forward to your review of the book!

Diane said...

I prefer the American cover too.

mary ann rodman said...

Hi there,
This is Mary Ann Rodman, the author of Yankee Girl. What an interesting thread about the cover art of the UK and US editions! You should know that the US edition was published by Farrar Staus Giroux, and the UK by Usborne. Usborne has no connection to FSG, other than the fact they bought the foreign rights to YANKEE GIRL, and therefore, were free to re-set, and redesign the cover art (which is copyrighted by FSG, and not part of the foreign rights deal). My editor at the time that YG was published was trying for a "retro" feel in using the stylized yellow cover...it reminded a lot of cover art on books I read as a child in the 1960's. Since the book takes place in 1964-65 Mississippi, he was on target. However, when I have this same discussion when I do school visits, I find that children much prefer the UK version, because it gives them a clearer idea what the book is about. They are confused by the very neutral and symbolic US cover. The paperback edition is coming out this December, and will most likely resemble the UK edition.
Not to blow my own horn, but YANKEE GIRL was a National Council of Social Studies Teachers Best Trade Book, a "Best Book" by the Chicago Public Library and the University of Wisconsin's CCBC Choices, as well as a Voice of Youth Advocates Best Book. It has been nominated for nine state book awards, including the Illinois Rebecca Caudill Award last year.
Check out my new historical fiction (WWII Pittsburgh this time), JIMMY'S STARS (this time I got to approve the jacket art and was much more satisfied all the way around!)
Happy reading,
MA

mary ann rodman said...

One last comment here. My new book JIMMY'S STARS, has also been purchased by Usborne UK, for publication in 2010. I can't wait to see how the cover art compares this time.
Best,
Mary Ann Rodman
P.S. Two new picture books coming in the spring
A TREE FOR EMMY (Peachtree, March 1)
SURPRISE SOUP (Viking, April 16)