Board books are a popular type of children’s book, known for their thick cardboard pages and durability. But one common question parents have is: do board books contain the full, unchanged story compared to standard picture books? Or are they shortened or abridged versions?
As a professional board book printing manufacturer, I decided to dig into this topic to provide a definitive answer. So let’s explore whether board books tell the complete tale or just snippets.
Do Board Books Have the Whole Story?
The short answer is – it depends! Some board books contain the full, unchanged story. However, many board books are condensed, abridged versions of longer stories that first appeared as standard picture books or novels.
So if you want the certainty of getting the complete narrative, you’ll need to do a bit of research on each specific book. Generalizations don’t always apply in the world of publishing!
Board Book Format Overview
Before analyzing this topic further, let’s quickly define what a board book is.
Board books are designed for young readers, normally babies through preschoolers. They have the following distinguishing features:
- Printed on thick, durable cardboard instead of paper pages
- Entire book, including covers, is made of sturdy cardstock
- Pages are folded and glued for extra strength
- Corners are rounded for safety
- Coated for durability with laminates or varnish
- Range from small to slightly larger than standard paperback
- Typically 24 pages or less
- Large text and colorful imagery are common
The durable format prevents tearing while allowing tiny fingers to easily grasp and turn pages. So board books build early literacy skills while withstanding the rough handling small kids dish out.
Now that we understand the board book landscape, let’s examine the issue of abridged stories.
Are Board Books Abridged?
Board books run the gamut from fully complete stories to significantly shortened versions. While some best-selling picture books are reformatted directly into board book versions without any changes, others undergo liberal editing to condense the text.
Here are a few key considerations:
- Many popular full-length picture books are republished in board format with no text changes. These contain the integral, original narrative.
- Classic children’s stories are sometimes abridged due to standard board book length restrictions. These shortened versions capture key plot points.
- Brand new stories written specifically as board books tend to be approximately 24 pages by design. But text length varies greatly even within this format.
- Several variables influence the editing process, such as number of words per page, font size choices, illustration proportions, and more.
- Minimal editorial standards exist, so publishers decide how much condensing needs done. Some drastically cut content while others make barely noticeable tweaks.
As you can see, variation abounds. The editing process ranges from negligible to extreme.
In certain cases, modern picture books already have brief text blocks that easily translate to board pages without sacrificing meaningful content. But beloved, traditional tales sometimes require significant paring down.
Why Are Some Board Books Abridged?
If a full-length children’s book undergoes excessive shortening before re-release as a board book, there are practical reasons driving this choice.
The main motivations for abridging stories during adaptation into cardboard format include:
Page Count Restrictions
Industry data shows that board books typically contain 24 pages or less. Very short books have as few as 6 – 10 spreads.
Compare this to standard picture books which usually have 32, 36 or even 48 pages. Obviously stories with large word counts require massive cutting to squeeze into far fewer pages.
Since the sturdy cardboard pages are thicker than paper, board books contain substantially less sheets. A 300-word picture book could easily compress into 20 – 24 board book pages.
But popular children’s novels with 15,000+ words realistically cannot convert directly into a board book without losing much descriptive detail and storyline nuance.
Production Cost Concerns
Adding more pages increases production expenses. Because board booksAlready utilize costlier materials than typical paper children’s books, publishers face budgetary pressures.
Cardboard paper options cost more per unit than the thin paper used in normal picture books. And shortcut binding methods cannot withstand board book page thickness. Various gluing options provide necessary flexibility.
Furthermore, laminate coatings improve durability but also raise costs.
When evaluating adaptation options for beloved classics, companies analyze potential profit margins from board book sales. Lengthy stories strain budgets. Trimming content decreases financial risk.
Reading Comprehension Capabilities
Since board books target infants through preschoolers, very young readership levels dictate age-appropriate language complexity. While a third grader might handle a full-length story, toddlers have limited vocabulary and inability to process convoluted passages.
Simpler words, less descriptive sentences, and straightforward plot progression aid early childhood comprehension. Excess verbiage taxes tiny attention spans. Getting lost amidst too many details or advanced grammar frustrates young kids.
Editors modifying stories into board books carefully subtract non-essential elaborations that could impede reading fluency for little ones. Removing lengthy descriptions focusing the highlights creates an understandable experience.
Commercial Viability Concerns
Publishers worried purely about profit margins analyze market demand before investing resources into adapting books into board format.
The deciding factor on whether to abridge always centers on expected commercial success. If profit projections appear weak for an unabridged version, editing happens. If confident strong sales await an uncut edition, original text gets preserved.
Extensive customer surveys might indicate certain lengthy classics would only sell if condensed. In those cases companies only proceed with abbreviated board book development, realizing unedited versions would fail financially.
Creative or Artistic Choices
Occasionally authors or illustrators participate actively in transforming their own books into board format. If artistic vision leans towards brevity or minimalism, unnecessary phrases face removal regardless of commercial factors.
Likewise, some creators revel in rich descriptive finesse; favouring indulgent specificity and flourishes. Those types resist excessive abridgment despite marketability considerations. Individual preference carries weight.
In other instances, living authors unfortunately cannot control posthumous releases. Inheritors influence editing decisions according to their own interpretations of what original writers might approve. But conjecture despite best intentions can distort initial creative impulses.
Negative Effects of Excessive Abridging
While some shortening helps early readers, extensive abridgment also backfires by confusing kids.
Vast oversimplification obliterates intricacies rendering stories overly vague. Stripping out minor side plots or nuances readers recall from full versions bewilders. Enjoyment suffers without those familiar touchpoints anchoring the narrative.
Likewise removing too many descriptors, adjectives or adverbs flattens rhythmic language patterns kids depend on. Flow disruption reduces engagement. And appreciation for writers’ talents diminishes absent beautiful stylistic hallmarks.
Examples of Unabridged Board Books
Despite frequent whittling, many all-time classics reach eager tiny hands intact by foregoing edits. Let’s examine some hugely popular children’s books continuing entire stories within cardboard covers.
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice Sendak’s seminal 1963 tale Where The Wild Things Are brought revolution through acknowledging children’s emotions. This full-length board book transports readers again to Max’s imaginative land without missing descriptive lines enhancing the rich scenes.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Generations have delighted in the quirky charm of Eric Carle’s The Very Hungry Caterpillar since its 1969 debut. Carle’s collage artistry vividly emerges reformatted onto board book pages without abridging his humorous account of metamorphosis fantasy.
Goodnight Moon
Margaret Wise Brown’s hypnotic bedtime ballad Goodnight Moon captivates drowsy toddlers during its board book rendition identical to original text. Her dream-inducing verses and Clement Hurd’s tranquil illustrations lose no potency despite forgoing paper and ink.
Examples of Abridged Board Books
Conversely, many literary mainstays REGULAR undergo radical shortening upon adaptation into board format. Here are a few enormously popular titles published lately with condensed board book text compared to earlier pictorial or chapter book editions:
Winnie-the-Pooh
A.A. Milne penned the 1926 classic Winnie-The-Pooh starring a beloved bear of little brain but lots of heart. Disney abridged significant portions before releasing condensed board book versions of Pooh’s Hundred Acre Wood adventures for contemporary tots.
The Velveteen Rabbit
Generations sobbed over Margery Williams’ 1922 anthropomorphic ode to stuffed rabbits and real magic. Unfortunately the board book adaptation severely chops descriptive passages that lend the threadbare Velveteen Rabbit his poignancy and charm.
Little Women
Louisa May Alcott’s semi-autobiographical March sisters stories evolved into the seminal coming-of-age 1868 novel Little Women still touching hearts today. Regrettably this board book iteration eviscerates much witty dialogue and expositional prose germane to literary merit.
As evidenced, abridging practices remain inconsistent despite public perception. Even within similar genres, publishers apply highly variable editing strategies when translating stories into board book format.
Policies range from nearly verbatim reproduction to practically rewriting simpler plotlines. Consumers should understand unabridged text is not guaranteed unless specified during marketing.
Some companies proudly trumpet “Complete, Unabridged Stories” as selling points differentiating their cardboard books from severely condensed versions on shelves nearby. Others intentionally truncate recognizing market realities favor simplification.
Caveat emptor remains prudent advice for gift-shopping caregivers seeking treasured childhood favourites for youngsters’ emerging libraries. Not all editions equal earlier printings’ artistry despite durable construction enticing early book handling skills.
The Bottom Line
So do board books tell the whole narrative? Sometimes yes, sometimes no! Abridgment frequency fluctuates widely. Generalizing misleads since practices diverge markedly even across imprints within publishers distributing multiple versions.
If obtaining full-length, accurate reproductions matters for bedtimes or nostalgia, carefully examining individual board book descriptions remains necessary rather than assuming all offer intact renditions. Concentrated browsing often unearths beloved texts transitioned meticulously cardboard formatting.
Conversely certain cynical truncations by copyright inheritors seeking purely mercenary gain undervalue original literary contributions altering public consciousness. Cultural legacy morphs obscured through overly commercial decisions. Financial temptations must balance with ethical considerations when repackaging creative vision shaping young minds.
Ultimately each family’s preferences guide purchasing options for their unique circumstances and values. Just realize board book editing fluctuates unpredictably.
So choose favourites mindfully, understanding beloved classics might hide within sturdy cardboard covers ready for teething toddlers. But recognize abridgement risks fracture fairy tales into fragmented versions lacking original splendor.
Either way, early literacy blossoms remain priority. Nourish inquisitive brains through exposing tiny thinkers to worlds unfolding awaiting exploration during whichever journey unfolds. Reading rests among humanity’s most empowering lifelong skills so inspire young ones by sharing any pages sparking insights.