Bats at the Ballgame on the NYT Bestseller List!

Brian Lies' new book Bats at the Ballgame (9780547249704 $16.99) debuts at #6 on the
'Picture Book List' of the New York Times!

Hurry up! Come one—come all!
We’re off to watch the bats play ball!

You’ll never forget your first game: the green so green, the presence of heroes past, and togetherness with family and friends, rooting for the home team.

But you think humans are the only ones who enjoy America’s national pastime? Grab your bat—the other kind—and your mitt, and join these captivating bats as they flutter off to watch their all-stars compete. How about a mothdog? Or some Cricket Jack?

In sweeping compositions that transport fans to the rightside-up and upside-down world of bats at play, Brian Lies treats us to a whole new ballgame.

Also by Brian Lies...

Bats at the Library 9780618999231 $16.00
Bats at the Beach 9780618557448 $16.00

New York Gift Show Wrap Up

Last week was the New York International Gift Fair. After entering the show with mixed feelings (mostly because of our new downstairs location) I have to say, this was one of the best shows I've attended since I started at Houghton (minus the humidity and rainy afternoons).

Our new location included a bigger booth space, fellow publishers Workman, Rizzoli, and Random House, and aisles filled with optimistic buyers!

A couple highlights from the show...

Alan Richardson, of the famous cupcake duo behind Hello, Cupcake and What's New, Cupcake,Here demonstrating lo mein cupcakes and spaghetti and meatball cupcakes! demonstrates how easy and magnificent it is to make these quirky cupcakes!

The big seller...
Our new Send-A-Story display! (9780547480046 $199.60)
Includes our 4 new mailable stories. (I Like You, Won't You be my Kissaroo, Everywhere Babies, and No Matter What- only $4.99 each!)

Be sure to check out all of HMH's new fall 2010 titles at www.hmhbooks.com!

Zest Books

We received some VERY exciting news recently...
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt will now be distributing Zest Books! An innovative San Francisco-based company, Zest Books is a line of smart and edgy books for teens ages 12 and up that focus on the color and chaos of teen life.
Hallie Warshaw, founder and publisher of Zest started the company in 2006 to offer "high quality, current, fun, hip nonfiction books" for the booming demographic that was devouring YA fiction. Zest produces 8-10 titles per year on topics important to teens, such as relationships, fashion, beauty, stress, dating, music, and high school and home life. The books are written by industry experts along with teen authors in consultation with Zest's Teen Advisory Board.
I am so excited to start selling these books- Here's a little of what you can expect!

The Date Book: A Teen Girl's Complete Guide to Going Out With Someone New

Kiss: A Girl's Guide to Puckering Up

Where's My Stuff: The Ultimate Teen Organizing Guide