No matter what they read—fiction or nonfiction—your child will gain from it, but there's no denying that fiction has its own appeal. Read on to learn why it is untrue if someone has told you that fiction reading is just like watching a fun movie and that your child won't learn anything about reality. Here, we go through the advantages of fiction reading for children as well as the advantages of buying used textbooks.
Creating a vocabulary for children
Undoubtedly, someone who reads a lot has a strong vocabulary. As your youngster reads more and more, his linguistic abilities greatly improve. Writers are frequently voracious readers, and you might even discover that you are raising a future novelist. As she reads, your child's communication abilities also significantly improve.
Reading fiction prepares you for real life
The University of Toronto's Keith Oatley, a professor emeritus of cognitive psychology, has done extensive research on how reading fiction—and the practice it encourages in relating to the views of characters—can work as a form of preparation for real life, specifically our social world.
According to him, fiction is a "particularly useful simulation" because successfully navigating the social environment requires us to consider a large number of interrelated causes and effects. Similar to how computer simulations can assist us in understanding challenging issues like flying... The complexity of social existence can thus be better understood through books, stories, and dramas.
Children can acquire complex lessons about how our societies and communities function if you give them access to fiction books.
Children's anxiousness is reduced by reading fiction.
Reading fiction might help children cope with the concerns they frequently have as they approach significant life events, such as starting school, going on their first date, or approaching exams. Young individuals frequently feel different from their peers and isolated, even though they may not express it. Good literature helps readers get over those fears by putting them in circumstances and people they can identify with, who experience the same fears and discover solutions to them.
Language learning is stimulated by literature.
Want to know what happens in your child's (or your own) brain when they read fictitious works?
Regardless of the supposed "quality" of the fiction, readers are more verbally skilled than non-readers. Let's follow our children's interests and allow them lots of opportunity to flex if one of the potential advantages of reading fiction—any form of fiction—is that it flexes the language "muscle"!
Children's horizons are expanded through reading literature.
Reading aloud to young children broadens their horizons by exposing them to ideas, relationships, and characters outside of their daily lives. This larger perspective increases curiosity, communication skills, and an open mind.
Increases empathy and supports emotional growth
Fiction gives your youngster a window into the life of various characters in various situations. Your youngster travels with them as they navigate different situations and deal with feelings like rage, excitement, grief, and disappointment. Your youngster will then be better able to manage his own emotions and show empathy for others. Stories can also be used as a method to communicate difficult realities like death, trauma, and illness.
The use of stories improves comprehension and problem-solving
Another strong argument in support of why children should read fiction is the ability of "sequencing." A significant component of reading comprehension is sequencing, which is the ability to recognize, arrange, and retell the order in which events occur, such as the start, middle, and finish of a narrative.
Beyond reading, it also significantly contributes to the "step-by-step" of our daily activities, such as morning routines and recipe following. The ability to comprehend and sequence information rationally facilitates problem-solving in a variety of subjects, from algebra to history. It follows that reading, listening to, and discussing stories (as well as narrative nonfiction) are excellent strategies to develop this crucial talent.
Reading skills are enhanced by stories.
Some literacy study suggests that a reader's skills can vary depending on the variety of what they read. A survey of the reading habits of almost 250,000 teenagers in 35 nations indicated that those who read fiction frequently outperformed those who read it infrequently or never by almost six months.
And even after additional considerations, such as the fact that readers of fiction typically spend more time reading than readers of nonfiction, the "fiction impact" on reading ability persisted. Although there are definitely definite advantages to reading nonfiction, it's wonderful to know that stories can be so effective at fostering strong literacy.
Creativity and imagination
A story introduces topics that your youngster might not be familiar with as well as new realms and situations. Of course, there are also make-believe and imagination, which all help to develop your child's creativity. She has the ability to picture what she reads or what is read to her, and she soon will begin to picture herself as a young heroine. The mental and emotional growth of your child is greatly aided by a vibrant imagination.
Second Hand Textbooks
When merchandise is readily available, purchasing old textbooks is frequently a no-brainer. The university bookstores frequently run out of used books before the first day of courses, forcing students who buy on that day to pay full retail for a new book. Online shoppers who are students virtually always have access to discounted used books. The advantages of old books over new ones are listed below.
Advantages of Purchasing Second Hand Textbooks
Foreign publications of second hand textbooks.
You may occasionally have the option to purchase textbooks in foreign languages. Although technically international editions cannot be sold again, numerous online vendors nevertheless offer them for sale. The description of the second hand textbooks will state if it is available in an international edition. These editions are incredible since they contain exactly the same information as the non-international version but are significantly more affordable. The variations are frequently superficial: the page numbers and content are same, but the book may be in paperback form rather than hardback, and the pages may be printed in monochrome rather than color.
Free Notes in Second Hand Textbooks
The majority of students make notes in their textbooks when they wish to recall anything specific about a particular page. Buying second hand textbooks has the advantage of already having annotations from previous owners. You never know, your book might include test answers or thorough explanations that none else's book contains. The second hand textbook will be more useful to you if the interior is messier-looking. You are welcome to add your own notes because they might be useful to someone else in the future. While you can, you might as well spread the riches.
Environmental benefit of second hand textbooks
Every time you purchase second hand textbooks, you open the door to recycling. You can spare the lives of many trees in addition to recycling. This is due to the fact that more trees are cut down during the production of paper. You may lessen the amount of waste that ends up in landfills by using second hand textbooks. In light of this, choosing to use used textbooks is one of your wisest choices. Utilize Usedbooksfactory to get access to second hand textbooks.
More second hand textbooks are available.
Finding a great deal on the book you need is simpler, quicker, and less expensive because there are many more used books available than new ones in the textbook market.
Lower Abatement Values of Second Hand Textbooks
You are probably aware of how aggravating it may be to spend $200 on a brand-new book only to have to sell it for, at best, $50. You won't receive anything close to the value of a used book when you buy a new one. However, if you purchase a second hand textbook, you won't need to be concerned about exorbitant depreciation rates. When you attempt to sell your book, its value won't be as high as it was when you first acquired it, but it will still be worth around the same. You stand to lose less money as a result.
Changing Probabilities
When purchasing a second hand textbook from a real person, you can haggle over the price until it is as low as you want it to be. That is impossible with a brand-new book. Since the producer will demand a particular price from it, it must sell for that amount. Dealing with actual people allows you to negotiate lower costs. This is particularly true if you purchase the book during a strange time of the year when few other people are looking to read it. You could spend far less money if you were to have first choice.
Cheaper choice of second hand textbooks
Almost often, second hand textbooks are less expensive than new ones. There are no content differences between a new book and a used book, except than normal wear and tear from being used by other students.
Delivery of second hand textbooks is swift.
Shipping should always be swift because cheap textbooks have been bought and sold online for so long. Ordering second hand textbooks from marketplace vendors in nearby states can help ensure that delivery is fast. The package will arrive at you more quickly the closer the place is.
After you've spent the time and money to edit, design, and market your book, the thought of selling it at a discounted price may seem counterintuitive. However, offering a discount is an excellent way to expand your reach in the book distribution channels. Discounting your book can help get it picked up by retailers. Here's how.
Before you can determine how much to discount your book, you need to consider your ideal sales channels. Will you make it available online, in physical stores, or both? Do you plan to make it available in libraries, chain stores, indie bookstores, or all of the above? Your discount will depend on how and where you want your book to be available. IngramSpark allows you flexibility in setting your discount at the time of title setup, but you still need to understand how book discounts work.
What is a Wholesale Discount?
The wholesale discount you set determines how much a wholesaler will actually pay for your book. When they sell your book to a retailer, bookstore, or library, they pass on a portion of the discount to them, depending on the wholesale discount you offer. The retailers and bookstores will sell your book at the list price or may offer it at a discounted price. This is how the wholesaler, distributor, retailer, and bookstore earn money to operate their businesses and hopefully make a small profit.
Many authors think that the only way to get their book into bookstores is through the traditional publishing path—this is hardly the case. Many bookstores are more than happy to support local authors. All you have to do is ask. However, most bookstores will not be willing to buy your book directly from you. It's more likely that they'll want it to come from a distributor, a wholesale distributor, such as Ingram Book Group, LLC., from which they order all of their other books. Selling your book with a wholesale discount and making it returnable via a book distributor is a good way to get your book on bookstore shelves.
It might seem counterintuitive to discount your book—but consider what you are getting in return. IngramSpark's wholesale distribution network allows you to reach more than 40,000 retailers and libraries. When you take advantage of this established distribution network, they become part of your sales force. They can give your book the kind of exposure that would be impossible for you to achieve on your own. You'll do better selling 2,000 books at a discount through major distribution channels than you would selling 200 at list price on your own.
Taking on the Competition
1. Traditional publishers: Traditional publishing houses, like Penguin Random House, offer wholesalers a discount. The wholesaler will pass along a portion of that discount to retailers, bookstores, and libraries. Retailers and bookstores will sell the book at the list price, so they can make a profit when they sell the book to readers. In order to compete for shelf space, you must also offer a wholesale discount. If you don't want your title rejected by retailers, set your book up with a competitive wholesale discount (e.g., 50-55%) and, if possible, offer returns. Returns can be very costly, and publishers need to be financially prepared for the return of any books sold through IngramSpark's wholesale service offering.
2. Other self-publishers: Not all self-publishers understand why they should offer wholesale discounts. The savvy indie author, like you, are already beating out tens of thousands of other self-publishers just by knowing the necessity of offering these discounts. This knowledge puts you on a similar playing field as major traditional publishers.
Having a wholesale discount lends you credibility and professionalism as you market your book to retailers. Because having this discount makes you competitive with traditional publishing houses, retailers will see that you know what you're doing and will be more likely to do business with you.
What Wholesale Discount Should I Offer Bookstores?
The trade discount most publishers choose to offer booksellers is 55%. IngramSpark provides the option of setting a discount within the range of 40% (minimum) to 55% (maximum). Applying a discount less than 55% can possibly limit the sale of your title to booksellers; however, this may be the right choice for you depending on your author goals and marketing strategies.
Let's walk through an example: If your book is 6x9, black-and-white, 150-page, paperback book is priced at $15 and you set a 55% wholesale discount, the wholesale price of the book will be $6.75.
$15 list price - ($15 X 55% discount) = $6.75 wholesale price
The wholesale price is the amount that the wholesaler will pay IngramSpark for the book. A wholesaler will keep a portion of that discount and pass along the rest to the bookstores ordering the book, and retailers may pass along a discount to the end consumer (for example: the retailer may sell your $15 book for $12.99 in their store). The cost to print your book (based on format choices you've made such as hardcover or paperback, black-and-white or premium color, page count, etc.) and a market access fee (equivalent to 1% of the local list price at the time of sale) will be deducted from the $6.75 wholesale price, and you will be paid what is left over as your publisher earnings on that sale.
Use IngramSpark's Publisher Compensation Calculator to see what you'll earn per book sale with your wholesale discount factored in.
You may be thinking, "Hey, why would I set a wholesale discount that enables the bookstore to make more money than me on the sale?" but consider how many sales you might not achieve without the help of retailers. If you have your own e-commerce and fulfillment methods and an unlimited fan base that you know will purchase from you without fail, then offering a higher wholesale discount may not be necessary for you. However, in order to participate in the IngramSpark wholesale distribution offering, the minimum wholesale discount you can offer is 40% in the United States and 35% in the United Kingdom, European Union and Australia. Most likely, more potential readers will visit their local bookstore or online retailer than will visit your author website or hand you cash for a copy. You have to consider what that exposure is worth to you.
You promote your book and let people know what retailers they can purchase it from. The retailers handle the inventory, ordering, and selling of your book so that you can earn compensation on your $15.00 book—but it may be money you wouldn't have earned otherwise. And if your book sells through stores, the stores may place more orders, and multiple sales could end up equaling more than the handful of $15.00 sales you may get if you try to do it all on your own.
If you think you'll offer a bookstore a 40% wholesale discount so that you get more and they get less, consider how many books they're asked to stock and how limited their shelf space is. Offering a wholesale discount lower than 55% will cause a retailer or bookstore to receive a “short” discount instead of their standard trade discount and is not typically a big enough incentive for them to purchase your book as stock for their shelves.
How Does the Discount Work on Books Ordered by the Publisher?
When you (the publisher) order your book your book through your IngramSpark account, there is no discount involved. With these publisher-direct orders, you pay printing and shipping. For example, if you're hosting a book signing, you might order 50 copies of your book to have on hand for the event and sell the book to attendees at list price. Your profit is the difference between the price you paid for printing and shipping, and the price individuals pay for your book at the signing. Using our paperback example from above, it would cost $169 to print 50 copies (plus shipping to wherever you're located). If you sold all 50 copies at your $15 list price, that would be $750 revenue minus $169 to print (plus shipping) and what's left over is your profit. Or perhaps you know a school teacher whose class is going to read your book—you can order books for the students yourself at the publisher-direct price and invoice the teacher according to your agreed-upon price.
Use IngramSpark's Print and Ship Calculator to calculate your printing and shipping costs for Publisher-Direct Orders.
Do Libraries Need a High Discount?
Libraries are different altogether because they're not trying to sell your book. They have a set budget for purchasing books, so you don't have to offer them a high discount. You do want to make sure your title metadata properly catalogs your book for libraries; otherwise they'll have difficulty finding it to make their purchase.
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