Top-10 Most-Wanted Books

By TDmonthly Staff
January 2012

_{With additional reporting from Chris Lundy and Brenda Ruggiero}

When TDmonthly Magazine asked retailers about their best-selling books in a December 2011 survey, the latest Diary of a Wimpy Kid book, Cabin Fever, was causing quite the stir. "The new Diary of a Wimpy Kid solid out in 3 days," Dean Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J. told TDmonthly, and they're "trying to get more from every source." Lynda Blankenship of Smart Toys & Books in Knoxville, Tenn., said that the entire series of Wimpy Kid books were a best seller. "Over the year, we've sold hundreds of the whole line," she said.

For girls, books featuring pink and frills seemed to be adding the most to the till, with the Fancy Nancy series and the book Pinkalicious both getting several nods.

You can learn more about these titles, and see the rest of the books that made the Top-10, below.

_{No manufacturer paid to be included in this article. All products listed were designated by editorial staff without regard to the company's relationship with TOYDIRECTORY.com/TDmonthly Magazine.}

The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition™ by CCA and B LLC

This set includes an 8" vintage-style pixie elf, a keepsake storage box and a children's picture book with a rhyming story that tells how the elf helps Santa out by watching children's behavior by day and reporting it to Santa at night. The elf is designed to be placed throughout the house during the Christmas season, creating a hide-and-seek activity for the whole family. Launch date: September 2005.
— “Elf on the Shelf is doing really well since we put those out five or six weeks ago,” remarked Janet Gregory, owner of Over the Rainbow Toys in Anchorage, Alaska, in November 2008. “We just brought them in in November. [We] sold 24 last month, and 24 already this month,” Terry Myers, owner of Kaleidoscope Toys in Round Rock, Texas, told TDmonthly.
— In a December 2011 survey about books, 2 out of 12 retailers named Elf on the Shelf their best-seller. "We sold 18 already, in just a couple weeks," Andrea Scartozzi from Hardware Toy Center in Paoli, Pa., told TDmonthly. William Meredith, owner of Learning Express in Cary, N.C., agreed. "Elf on a Shelf is our number one item. It has been for years!" he told TDmonthly.

Where to Buy: Smart Kids Toys; Kazoo Toys; Escapade Direct ( Watch Video) 2/18/2008 (MSRP: $29.95; Age: 3 and Up)

Fancy Nancy: Explorer Extraordinaire! by HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS

In this 32-page hardcover, Fancy Nancy and her Explorers' Club, which includes friend Bree, take a rather fancy look at the outdoors. They explore butterflies, flowers, trees, birds and more. The book is written by Jane O'Conner and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser. Launch date: March 31, 2009.
— Five of 44 specialty retailers referenced the "Fancy Nancy" series when discussing best-selling books in late 2009.
— In a December 2011 survey about books, 3 out of 12 retailers told TDmonthly that Fancy Nancy books were their best sellers. Maryalice Miner, co-owner of Miner's Doll & Toy Store in Ocean Springs, Miss., told TDmonthly that, "The Fancy Nancy books have been really big." They sell a half dozen copies or more each month. 12/7/2009 (MSRP: $12.99; Age: 4 to 7)

Diary of a Wimpy Kid - Cabin Fever by ABRAMS BOOKS

Greg Heffley is in big trouble. School property has been damaged, and Greg is the prime suspect. But the crazy thing is, he’s innocent. Or at least sort of. The authorities are closing in, but when a surprise blizzard hits, the Heffley family is trapped indoors. Greg knows that when the snow melts he’s going to have to face the music, but could any punishment be worse than being stuck inside with your family for the holidays? Launch date: November 15, 2011.
— As of 12/06/2011 this book had 4.2 out of 5 stars from 58 reviews on Amazon.com.
— In a December 2011 survey about best selling books, Dean Smith, owner of JaZams in Princeton, N.J. told TDmonthly that they sold 36 copies of the book in the first month after its release. 12/6/2011 (MSRP: $13.95; Age: 8 and Up)

Nail Art by KLUTZ

Nail Art by KLUTZ This photographic instruction book is full of tips, techniques and hundreds of designs to paint on fingernails. The book comes with six non-toxic, peel-off nail colors.
— “We do a lot of Klutz for the 10- to 12-year-old girl,” Jason Curtis of Funtopia Toys in Middletown, Calif., told TDmonthly in June 2010.
— Eight percent of 40 retailers cited Klutz books as a top seller for girls in early summer 2010.
— Mary Holmes from Go Bananas LLC in Ashburn, Va., told TDmonthly in a December 2011 survey that books from Klutz were her best seller in that category, selling about 12 each month. Two other retailers also named Klutz books as their best sellers. 7/29/2010 (MSRP: $21.95; Age: 6 and Up)

Tickle Monster Laughter Kit by COMPENDIUM INC.

Tickle Monster Laughter Kit by COMPENDIUM INC. A loveable monster with big puffy mitts has just flown in from Planet Tickle. His mission is to bring joy and laughter to Planet Earth. How? By tickling any child who happens to follow along in this book. Parents read aloud and do the tickling. The book comes with blue Tickle Monster mitts, with holes in the fingertips to make it easy for parents to instantly transform themselves into Tickle Monster and turn pages while tickling. Launch date: September 30, 2009.
— As of 12/06/2011 this product had 4.9 out of 5 stars from 81 reviews on Amazon.com.
— In a December 2011 survey, William Meredith, owner of Learning Express in Cary, N.C., said Tickle Monster was one of his best selling books. "It's a good infant item. You can buy it for a baby,” but it's also suitable for toddlers and preschoolers, he said. They sell about 10 copies every month. 12/6/2011 (MSRP: $34.95; Age: 1 and Up)

Pinkalicious by HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS

Pinkalicious by HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS This book full of all things pink focuses on a girl who turn pink herself after eating too many cupcakes! It also teaches that it's best just to be yourself. Launch date: May 23, 2006.
— Two of 44 specialty retailers referenced the Pinkalicious series when discussing best-selling books in late 2009. "Those are good ones," Kristen Pollard of Mud Puddle Toys in Marblehead, Mass., told TDmonthly.
— In a December 2011 survey about books, three out of 12 retailers said Pinkalicious was one of their best selling titles. 12/7/2009 (MSRP: $17.99; Age: 5 to 8)

The Kids' Book of Weather Forecasting by IDEALS PUBLICATIONS

Kids discover what makes the weather happen and how to predict what's ahead. Activities include making equipment to measure rainfall, wind direction and speed, humidity, and barometric pressure; recording measurements and observations in a Weather Log; and simulating weather events to demonstrate the science behind them. From foggy mornings to sunny afternoons to our changing seasons, weather forecasting is a year-round, practical science that children will have fun learning about. Perfect for budding meteorologists and science lovers. Launch date: January 28, 2017.
— In a December 2011 survey Mary Porter Green, owner of The Curiosity Zone in Ashton, Va., told TDmonthly, "We sell a lot of the science and craft books from Ideals Books - such as Science Play and Weather Forecasting. They are brightly colored with great graphics on the covers and full of simple projects for kids." 12/6/2011 (MSRP: $12.99; Age: 7 to 12)

Mary Engelbreit's Mother Goose: One Hundred Best-Loved Verses by HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS

From the vast and colorful imagination of Mary Engelbreit springs a Mother Goose world bursting with warmth and humor. All the favorite time-honored characters are here - Little Bo-Peep, Humpty Dumpty, Old King Cole, Jack and Jill, and many, many more, along with such treats as a mouse running up the clock, piggies going to market, and children dancing round the mulberry bush. As complete as can be with one hundred rhymes in all. Launch date: September 20, 2005.
— As of 12/06/2011 this product had 4.6 out of 5 stars from 52 reviews on Amazon.com.
— Maryalice Miner, co-owner of Miner's Doll & Toy Store in Ocean Springs, Miss., told TDmonthly in a December 2011 survey that they sell about 6 copies of this title each month. 12/6/2011 (MSRP: $19.99; Age: 1 and Up)

Where the Wild Things Are by HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS

Where the Wild Things Are by HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS This hardcover classic written and illustrated by Maurice Sendak follows the imaginative journey of a little boy named Max who is sent to bed without his dinner.
— Two of 44 specialty retailers named "Where the Wild Things Are" when asked about best-selling books in late 2009. Bill Sartain, co-owner of Tutoring Toy in Salt Lake City, cited sales of about 24 per month.
— Maryalice Miner, co-owner of Miner's Doll & Toy Store in Ocean Springs, Miss., told TDmonthly in a December 2011 survey that this book, along with other evergreen titles, sell well year round. 12/7/2009 (MSRP: $17.95; Age: 2 to 8)

SWING! A Scanimation Picture Book by WORKMAN PUBLISHING

In this book of Scanimation visual effects, readers see an ice skater doing a pirouette, a boy riding his bike, a girl kicking a soccer ball, and more. The multi-phase animation used in the book is an awe-inspiring technology patented by artist and inventor Rufus Butler Seder.
— In a December 2011 survey about books, Donna Frederick owner of The Play House Toy Store in Durham, N.C., told TDmonthly that Scanimation books were her best selling titles. "People like it because it's fun like a flip book. Even adults like them. We sell out of them all the time," she said. 12/15/2008 (MSRP: $12.95)