5Qs With Children's Book Specialist Patty Norman
Patty Norman knows children's books better than anyone in town. She has run the children's section at Copperfield's since 2003, and even before that, brought her own children to the store. Here Norman reflects on inclusivity, epic book-release parties, and the rock band Night Ranger.
Describe a week in the life of a children’s book specialist.
I'm also the director of children's events, so I have two hats. As the children’s specialist, I'm responsible for shelving, straightening, ordering back lists, helping with customer service – that's probably the biggest priority – doing pulls when a book has been there for too long, constantly keeping the inventory up to date, and creating displays. And as the director of children's events, I interact with publishers and publicists for touring authors who are coming to the region, finding them events to do, whether it's in schools or in store, or both, coordinating all of that. An author in the next two days is doing four schools, plus an evening event, so I’m making sure that we have the order forms made, and the ability for kids to buy books if they want to buy books, all that sort of stuff. I do it for other Copperfields stores as well, or at least for schools in our other stores' regions, because there are nine stores.
Any particularly memorable moments from the last 23 years at Copperfield's in Petaluma?
The book launches at midnight for the Harry Potter books were just so astoundingly cool, and I still don't know how we pulled off of the things we did, like getting wizards in a horse-drawn wagon to come down the street at midnight, and having dry ice that lurched out into the sky when the book got there, and having 1,200 kids in line at midnight, it's just … it was phenomenal. It was magic.
What recent trends or changes have you observed in children's literature?
I think they're trying hard to make books more inclusive, so that kids can find themselves in a book. I mean, I was growing up, they were all like Dick and Jane, you know. It was all very homogenous, all very white, and very basic. And now there are lots of different kids in books, and kids are able to see themselves in a book, and I think that's so important. So I'd say that's the biggest trend, just expanding the tent, so everybody has books to read about their experience.
What makes a good book store children’s section?
To me, it’s one where kids are all always welcome. They do not have to buy a book, but they can come in and look and see what's new. They can sit and talk with their friends. They can do their homework. They can come in and be there, and then, if they find a book, great. Odds are they will. But it's mostly that it's a community space, and it's important for kids to have one where they're welcome. It’s definitely theirs. In 2007, when we broke through that wall and turned that into the kids section, it was really fun helping to lay it out, and figure out what would feel coolest, having tables, and pillows, and different spaces, and t-shirts from all the schools – they know they’re represented up there as well.
What’s something that people who know you through Copperfield's don’t know about you?
My brother was a legit rock star, and I met my husband because he was doing sound for my brother's band. My brother’s band, Night Ranger, was on tour, and my brother’s girlfriend and I went to the show to hear it, and I had a date. I thought the sound guy was really cute, so I ditched my date, and we just celebrated our 40th anniversary – so I guess I made a good call.
