German Buch News: Small Pubs on Facebook; Interactive Kid's Books

By Siobhan O’Leary

German publishers are setting up their own Facebook fan pages in increasing numbers, but size doesn’t seem to matter when it comes to attracting the most fans on the world’s largest social network. According to BuchMarkt, small independent publishers have the most success in attracting followers. The first through third ranks are held by Echtzeit Verlag, Residenz Verlag and the periplaneta Verlag und Mediengruppe respectively. You have to look all the way to number 11 to find the first large publisher — Kiepenheuer & Witsch — and Hanser is not far behind in 13th place.

More and more children’s picture books in Germany are being packaged with CDs, CD-ROMs, DVDs or free download opportunities. The Boersenblatt features a list of new picture book releases that are supplemented by everything from musical accompaniment to interactive games.

About the Author

Siobhan O'Leary

Siobhan O’Leary is a literary agent, translator and writer based in Berlin. She previously worked in the Foreign Rights department of the Crown Publishing Group (Random House) and at the publishing consulting firm Market Partners International.