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A. W. Gifford
A. W. Gifford
8 years ago

One. Who is Carole Edelsky and why should I care what she thinks of this book? Two. What award did Ester win? I’m guessing not an art award.

red
red
8 years ago

If there was some clue as to what the book is actually about, a cover like this might work with a little work.

My guess (before cheating): How to train your hunting dog.

katz
katz
8 years ago

Coloring inside the lines is hard.

Catie
Catie
8 years ago

I like it how the background is colored in triangles. I wonder if that’s intentional or a happy accident.

I’m assuming it’s a book about raising children, and that’s why a child’s drawing was used. At least I hope that’s the case. (Well, what do you know, I was right. This might not be such a lousy cover after all.)

Catie
Catie
8 years ago
Reply to  Catie

No, actually, it’s a very good cover. You don’t know who Carol Edelsky is because I assume you’re not into education. Those who are will probably know who she is.

Carole Edelsky is Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at Arizona State University. Her research has been based on language and language learning, and she has worked on developing the theoretical distinction between reading/writing and reading/writing exercises. She is active in the Center for Establishing Dialogue in Teaching and Learning, Inc., a non-profit corporation organized by teachers to help teachers take control of their own professional growth, and she has worked with numerous groups of teachers in the United States and Canada on whole language theory-in-practice.

Yes, Steven King might be a universally more recognizable name, but it would be totally irrelevant to this book.

Next, the font is professionally done. No nonsense, clear and straight-forward, as it fits for non-fiction, and still not boring.

And what better image to put on a book about raising kids to be peacemakers than a child drawing a white dove with a peace sign on it? This cover was done by a professional.

katz
katz
8 years ago
Reply to  Catie

“It’s a book about education” doesn’t explain why the drawing goes off the side of the page. Or why the “professionally done” font is full of artifacts.

Catie
Catie
8 years ago
Reply to  katz

So it’s off-center. It follows the rule of thirds. The peace sign is exactly where the lines cross, which makes me believe even more this was done by a pro. Artifacts?

katz
katz
8 years ago
Reply to  Catie

Artifacts. These are caused by saving the file as a low-resolution jpeg, a real rookie mistake. (It’s hard to point out particular artifacts because the text, especially the tagline, is basically one giant artifact–no clean edges anywhere.)

Catie
Catie
8 years ago
Reply to  katz

Doesn’t mean the same person uploaded it to Amazon. It’s quite possible the publisher had to resize it.

Lydia
Lydia
8 years ago
Reply to  Catie

I don’t know who designed the cover, but children’s art should probably be used on books for children, not about children. IMO.

Nicola Cuti
Nicola Cuti
8 years ago

This might have made it as a descent impressionistic cover if it weren’t for those weak, squiggly lines.

EricL
EricL
8 years ago

Graffiti on a pigeon. Is that some new fad? Harder to spray paint a bird than an interstate overpass.