About Me:

Aloha! I'm Wendy Kennar. I'm the mother of a seven-year-old son and a wife living in Los Angeles. I was a public school teacher for twelve years until a chronic medical condition made it necessary to leave my teaching career.

I've always been described as "quiet" - really, I'm just biting my tongue. I've got lots to say, and lots of thoughts to share, I just prefer to write them. That's the purpose of this blog. Each Wednesday, I post a personal essay offering my observations and thoughts.

A few fun facts about me: I've wanted to be a writer since second grade, when my teacher, Mrs. Jones, made me a "book" with a yellow construction paper cover. I have never learned to whistle, have always preferred sunflowers to roses, and have spent my life living within the same zip code.

Through the years, my writing has been published in the Los Angeles Times, Christian Science Monitor, United Teacher, GreenPrints, L.A. Parent, DivineCaroline.com, RoleReboot.org, XOJane, and Brain, Child Magazine. Additionally, my personal essays have been included in several anthologies, including: The Barefoot Review, Beyond the Diaper Bag, Lessons From My Parents, Write for Light, Being a Grown-Up: A User's Manual for the Real World, Ka-Pow!, How Writing Can Get You Through Tough Times, Breath and Shadow, The Grey Wolfe Storybook, and Sisters Born, Sisters Found.
I am a regular contributor at MomsLA.com, and you can also find me at Goodreads.

Thanks for stopping by and reading my blog. Feel free to comment and share my blog with others!

Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Don't Judge a Book By its Cover

I don’t know who first issued that rule.  But whoever it was, he/she was a pompous liar - in my opinion.
We do judge books by their covers, all the time.  My students do it in the classroom library.  When faced with three copies of the yellow Diary of a Wimpy Kid, my students will always fight over the least-bent, newest-looking copy.  I try to tell them the story is the same in each of the three copies.  And it’s true, the story is the same.  But there’s something to be said for holding a brand-new (or newish) book.  A book that has no pages bent back, a book without creases.  A book that doesn’t look like it might have spent some time in someone’s washing machine.
And, in all honesty, I’m no different.  Recently, I received an email from a large book store chain advertising it’s summer clearance.  I clicked and encountered page after page of bargain books; each page containing 100 different book cover images.  And I scrolled.  Quickly.  I paused when a familiar writer’s name adorned a book cover.  Otherwise, I scrolled and didn’t stop until I saw an image that “spoke” to me.
I don’t even know how to properly describe a book cover image that “speaks” to me.  There’s something about the photo, or the font, or the title that captures my attention.  It might not be enough for me to buy the book (I do read the synopsis before clicking “buy”), but whatever I saw was enough - there was the possibility that I might buy the book.
Maybe that familiar adage should be amended; something along the lines of “The cover can only do so much.”  Yes, the cover is important.  But, if I’m not intrigued, if I’m not caught up in the story unfolding on those inside pages, it doesn’t matter what the cover looks like.

3 comments:

  1. I have to admit the cover of a book has to appeal to me in order for me to decide if I want to buy it or not.I also have to be able to get into the story within a couple of pages or else I won't continue reading.I love reading your work and you draw the reader in immediately.I love you and I am so proud of you.
    love,mommy

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  2. Don't judge a book by its cover, Beauty is only skin deep, Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, these and many others convey the private thoughts of people every where. You are a gifted writer. Your Mother & I are proud of you.

    Love, Dad

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  3. Honey,

    Sorry I missed commenting on this blog last week!

    I feel that video game covers also have the same impact to draw you in or miss your attention.

    You only get one chance to make a first impression!

    I Love You!!

    Paul

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