The Book Tree is preparing to “re-debut” this May in a brand-new, second edition, and Frank suggested that I offer a little look inside what goes on when we overhaul a book. A lot has changed with this title, and what follows is a quick sketch of that process.

It all begins with an initial re-evaluation, as basic as skimming through the book and asking, “What would we do differently if we did it all over again?”

First, the audience. Because The Book Tree was written specifically for children, the format had to be direct and simple to browse. This meant rearranging things: books alphabetized by title instead of by author and bigger, easy-to-see titles.

Next, the vibe. Brimming with fairy tales, legends, and all the rest, The Book Tree carried the aura of a well-worn classic, and we wanted its look to reflect this in the new edition. How? We worked to bring the classics straight into the book through illustrations. Between Golden Age drawings that had come into public domain and some kindly-granted publisher permissions, we were able to sprinkle pictures from the recommended books throughout the pages of the second edition. What’s more, we also added an illustrator index in the back, making it easier to find stories illustrated by your child’s favorite artists.

We couldn’t rethink the inside without rethinking the outside too. Rachel, one of our graphic artists, worked up a number of designs, and we finally settled on a rich, crisp, autumnal look for the cover. (We still feel cozy just looking at it!)

And, last but certainly not least, the inspiration that led to a new edition-the content. Our mother and daughter author team, Elizabeth McCallum and Jane Scott, reviewed over 100 new titles for the new edition. Their writing style is concise yet clever, and they have a knack for giving just enough of the story to get you interested without giving it all away.

That’s it in a nutshell. Sure, there are still some last minute details to iron out, but by May, we hope you’ll be delighted with the new Book Tree, and especially the books it leads you to.

P.S. To those of you who attempted to read this in our most recent newsletter, our apologies. We encountered technical difficulties for the last time and are casting off our current email promo provider. Watch for something totally fresh (and viewable) next month.