If this sounds like an about-turn from my previous post about people preferring non-fiction to fiction, it isn't.

But like i said, i lurve non-fiction, too.

So what is this all about then? Been reading the Hornbook (Jan/Feb), where the wonderful people over there has made an entire issue on the winners of the Boston Hornbook book prizes. This Canadian guy (Nicholas Debon) won for Best Non-fiction Book, The Strongest Man in the World: Louis Cyr. Published by Groundwood Books, this book has practically no 'interest' value in this part of the world, plus Canadian published books are very difficult to find. (i think the main problem is they only hold local rights, and very stupidly sell world rights, UK & US rights to other publishers. Though some like Groundwood retain US rights, which is why and how i managed to stock this book in the first place. Anyway, some award winning authors books seldom see the light of day outside of Canada because some bigshot publisher (UK or US) may not have planned to publish them).

My point is ... non-fiction books that cover the whole earth, factual please are easily obtained and even easier to pan them off. Non-fiction picture books are well, another species altogether. If picture books about rabbits who ask about how much they are loved are hard to sell, then non-fiction picture books are like selling fridges to Eskimos. But. I like them. i think they fill a niche for the in-betweeners. For kids who like to learn some facts, are too young to appreciate the really heavy stuff, or older children who appreciate the beauty of a good and well presented picture book that isn't at all about made-up things.

'The Strongest Man' is definitely one hard-to-sell. But have you read any Steve Jenkins? I find his books fascinating. There is one that is called Actual Size, where he draws the animals to their actual size. Quite cool.

And if you see them popping up on bookstore shelves, it's because they are worthy of notice. Look them up someday.