Latest news with #NielsenIQBookData
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Catherine Chidgey's The Book Of Guilt Is The First NZ-Published Book To Hit Number 1 This Year
Press Release – NielsenIQ BookData According to NielsenIQ BookData, the leading provider of consumer research and retail sales analysis for the book industry, The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey (Te Herenga Waka University Press) is the first New Zealand published book to hit number one overall this year to date with over 1000* copies sold through the New Zealand BookScan panel of retailers, following Chidgey's recent successful appearance at the Auckland Writers Festival, Waituhi o Tāmaki. Number two in this week's chart is The Let Them Theory, by Mel & Sawyer Robbins (Penguin Random House) and The Book of Guilt has now broken its 5-week run at the top of the charts. Catherine Chidgey is no stranger to the New Zealand bestseller charts, appearing a total of 183 times across various positions in the NZ Fiction top 10 (since BookScan began sales tracking back in 2008) for her books, Pet (2023), The Axeman's Carnival (2022), (both Te Herenga Waka University Press), Remote Sympathy, (2020), and The Wish Child (2016) (both Victoria University Press). Chidgey has previously hit number one on the NZ Fiction chart 25 times prior to this latest week across these same four titles and last week, The Book of Guilt went straight to number one on the NZ Fiction chart after only 3 days on sale. This current week marks a new milestone however, with The Book of Guilt coming in at number one overall across all types of book sales (all genres, both NZ-published and international books). Nevena Nikolic, Territory Manager for NZ, said: 'There has been a 206% increase in sales from 2020 to 2024 for Catherine Chidgey's titles proving her star is on the rise in New Zealand in terms of book sales. This latest novel, The Book of Guilt, looks set to break further records based on early sales to-date.' *Source: NielsenIQ BookData New Zealand, BookScan data to week ending 17 May, 2025 About NielsenIQ BookData NielsenIQ BookData offers a comprehensive range of services to the international book industry, supporting the discovery, purchase, distribution, and sales measurement of books. We proudly manage the ISBN and SAN Agencies for the UK & Ireland, providing publishers with a suite of services, from assigning ISBNs to adding metadata to our database, along with promotional tools to help market your book effectively. For booksellers and libraries, we offer access to our database of over 52 million book records for title look-up, enriching websites, and managing internal systems. Our research services deliver retail sales analysis for both print and e-books across 17 territories, complemented by insights from our Books and Consumers Survey, as well as Country and Genre-specific reports. The company is wholly owned by NIQ. For more information, visit:
Scoop
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Catherine Chidgey's The Book Of Guilt Is The First NZ-Published Book To Hit Number 1 This Year
According to NielsenIQ BookData, the leading provider of consumer research and retail sales analysis for the book industry, The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey (Te Herenga Waka University Press) is the first New Zealand published book to hit number one overall this year to date with over 1000* copies sold through the New Zealand BookScan panel of retailers, following Chidgey's recent successful appearance at the Auckland Writers Festival, Waituhi o Tāmaki. Number two in this week's chart is The Let Them Theory, by Mel & Sawyer Robbins (Penguin Random House) and The Book of Guilt has now broken its 5-week run at the top of the charts. Catherine Chidgey is no stranger to the New Zealand bestseller charts, appearing a total of 183 times across various positions in the NZ Fiction top 10 (since BookScan began sales tracking back in 2008) for her books, Pet (2023), The Axeman's Carnival (2022), (both Te Herenga Waka University Press), Remote Sympathy, (2020), and The Wish Child (2016) (both Victoria University Press). Chidgey has previously hit number one on the NZ Fiction chart 25 times prior to this latest week across these same four titles and last week, The Book of Guilt went straight to number one on the NZ Fiction chart after only 3 days on sale. This current week marks a new milestone however, with The Book of Guilt coming in at number one overall across all types of book sales (all genres, both NZ-published and international books). Nevena Nikolic, Territory Manager for NZ, said: 'There has been a 206% increase in sales from 2020 to 2024 for Catherine Chidgey's titles proving her star is on the rise in New Zealand in terms of book sales. This latest novel, The Book of Guilt, looks set to break further records based on early sales to-date.' *Source: NielsenIQ BookData New Zealand, BookScan data to week ending 17 May, 2025 About NielsenIQ BookData NielsenIQ BookData offers a comprehensive range of services to the international book industry, supporting the discovery, purchase, distribution, and sales measurement of books. We proudly manage the ISBN and SAN Agencies for the UK & Ireland, providing publishers with a suite of services, from assigning ISBNs to adding metadata to our database, along with promotional tools to help market your book effectively. For booksellers and libraries, we offer access to our database of over 52 million book records for title look-up, enriching websites, and managing internal systems. Our research services deliver retail sales analysis for both print and e-books across 17 territories, complemented by insights from our Books and Consumers Survey, as well as Country and Genre-specific reports. The company is wholly owned by NIQ. For more information, visit:
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Reading aloud is losing its magic—but it's not too late to bring it back
New research by HarperCollins UK and Farshore reveals a worrying trend—and an opportunity for change. Reading bedtime stories was one of the most cherished parts of our childhood for many of us. It was the sound of a parent's voice, the comfort of cuddling up close, the magic of getting lost in a world far beyond our own. But for many children today, that moment of magic is quietly fading. In a new study released by HarperCollins UK and Farshore in December 2024, fewer than half of parents with children aged 0–13 say reading aloud is 'fun for me.' And when it comes to the youngest readers, just 41% of 0–4-year-olds are read to frequently, down sharply from 64% in 2012. The research, part of the 2024 Understanding the Children's Book Consumer survey conducted with NielsenIQ BookData, reveals that our cultural relationship with reading is shifting. Gen Z parents—those who grew up with screens—are more likely than previous generations to see reading as 'more a subject to learn' rather than a joyful activity. Their kids are absorbing that same message: almost one in three children aged 5–13 now see reading as something to study, not something to love. Even more troubling? This perception is growing. In 2012, only 25% of children felt this way. In 2024, it's 29%—and among 11–13-year-olds, it jumps to 35%. Related: Eye-opening viral video shows difference between effective and ineffective ways to handle bedtime Perhaps most heartbreaking is how early the disparity sets in. Among toddlers aged 0–2, just 29% of boys are read to daily, compared to 44% of girls. More than 1 in 5 boys are rarely or never read to at all. And by age 13, only 12% of boys read for fun every day. Alison David, Consumer Insight Director at Farshore and HarperCollins Children's Books, says, 'Being read to makes reading fun for children. So, it's very concerning that many children are growing up without a happy reading culture at home…Children who are read to daily are almost three times as likely to choose to read independently compared to children who are only read to weekly at home. It's never too late to start, or resume, reading with children.' Related: The scientific benefits of dads reading bedtime stories But there's also hope—real, inspiring hope. In a powerful pilot study called 'Social Reading Spaces,' HarperCollins UK partnered with the School Library Association to reimagine how we help reluctant adolescent readers reconnect with books. Over 10 weeks, 17 school libraries across the UK created pressure-free book clubs that emphasized connection, conversation, and community over reading assignments. The results were nothing short of transformational. More than 400 students aged 12–13 took part. Afterward, 60% said they were more interested in reading, and 84% said it was a worthwhile experience. In one school, boys who joined the club saw their reading ages grow by an average of 1 year and 3 months—compared to just 5 months in their wider year group. 'You can—like—express your emotions and your feelings here,' one boy said. Another shared, 'It's just a fun way of communicating and getting to read more books and become friends at the same time.' Yes, life is busier than ever. Yes, the pressures of modern parenting are real. But this research offers a gentle but urgent reminder: our kids need stories—not just for literacy, but for joy, connection, and emotional growth. Even five minutes a day can change the story of a child's life. Let's bring back the magic of reading aloud. Let's make story time a space of comfort and laughter, and imagination. And let's do it not out of guilt, but out of love. Because the truth is: we don't have to be perfect parents. But we can be the ones who say, 'Let's read together.' Sources: HarperCollins UK & Farshore (2024). New research reveals that parents are losing the love of reading aloud. 'PDF via HarperCollins Press Release'
New York Post
30-04-2025
- General
- New York Post
This parenting tradition is dying with Gen Z — and it's harming their kids
Gen Zzzzs want to put this precious parenting pastime to bed. Snuggling up under a kiddo's comforter to read the little one a bedtime story is a total snooze-fest for moms and dads in their early 20s, according to a new study on the steep decline of children's interest in books. Zoomers simply don't consider reading fairy tales and nursery rhymes a 'fun' time. 5 Younger parents feel that reading aloud to their kids is more laborious than pleasurable, per new data. Marco – Sorry, 'Snow White' — hi-ho, hi-ho, back on the shelf you go. 'Despite reading aloud to children being a proven way to boost their enjoyment of reading, the number of parents reading aloud to children is at an all-time low,' wrote researchers for publishing company HarperCollins UK, in collaboration with NielsenIQ BookData, a consumer intelligence firm. 'This is particularly pronounced among Gen Z parents, where almost one in three (28%) see reading as [more of a] 'subject to learn,'' said study authors, who polled approximately 2,000 adults across all age demographics for their findings. 'As the first generation to grow up with technology, Gen Z parents may turn to digital entertainment for fun rather than books.' But instead of defaulting to their devices, it might be time for mothers and fathers to read the writing on the wall. 5 Researchers found that Gen Z parents prefer their phones, tablets and computers to books. Marco – Recent results from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) — a test administered to fourth and eighth graders — showed at least a third of America's students failed to demonstrate 'basic' reading skills expected for their age group. Experts blame the 'heartbreaking' slump on the post-pandemic shift away from foundational learning — fundamental concepts such as literacy and numeracy — both in schools and at home. But Gen Zers aren't the only guys guilty of skipping story-time. The HarperCollins UK report revealed that only 40% of all parents, including millennials and Gen Xers, said reading aloud to kids is 'fun for me.' It's not that modern moms and dads are lazy. They're just too busy. 'Parents face increasing pressures, with 34% of parents of 0 to 13s wishing they had more time to read to their children,' researchers determined, adding that 49% of folks feel their broods 'have too much schoolwork to read books.' 5 Parents of all ages are reading to their little boys far less frequently than they're reading tot their little girls. memento_jpeg – Still, shelving bedtime books is taking a toll on infants, tikes and tweens — especially little lads. 'Fewer than half (41%) of 0 to 4-year-olds are read to frequently, a steep decline from 64% in 2012,' investigators warned. 'Boys and girls are treated differently, with only 29% of 0 to 2-year-old boys read to 'every day/nearly every day', compared to 44% of girls in the same age group,' noted the insiders. 'The crisis in boys reading for pleasure continues from infancy to adolescence, as only 12% of 12 to 13-year-old boys read for fun.' However, across both genders, 29% of children ages 5 to 13 find reading to be educational rather than enjoyable. It's a slight, yet disrupting an uptick from the 25% of youngsters who felt the same way in 2022. 'This growing association of reading with pressure rather than pleasure is contributing to disengagement,' the analysts said. But all hope isn't lost, says lead study author Allison David. 5 Experts claims kids who are often read to by their parents are happier, more physically active and have strong desires to continue reading on their own. Irina Schmidt – 'Being read to makes reading fun for children. So, it's very concerning that many children are growing up without a happy reading culture at home,' David, the consumer insight director at HarperCollins Children's Books, said in a statement. 'It means they are more likely to associate reading with schoolwork, something they are tested on and can do well or badly, not something they could enjoy,' she continued. 'The good news is when children are read to frequently, they very quickly come to love it and become motivated to read themselves,' David noted. 'Children who are read to daily are almost three times as likely to choose to read independently compared to children who are only read to weekly at home.' 5 David assures parents that it's 'never too late' to institute a reading regimen with their children. Jacob Lund – A previous poll via digital reading platform, Epic, found that kids who read a lot are happier, more physically active, and have a more active imaginations and even problem-solving skills than their peers who rarely read. So, put down that iPhone and pick up that 'Pinocchio' pop-up book, mom. 'It's never too late to start, or resume, reading with children,' said David.
