Here's a link to some good info in an archived eBay Bookseller's board thread:
Illustrated children's books - what determines popularity?
Sort the thread from 'Oldest to Newest' to see the proper continuum.
"Apr 8, 2014 9:48:56 PM
I was lucky to find a copy of American Pictureboks from Noah's Ark to the Beast Within for a quarter - it looks to be a nice overview on Children's Ilustrated books in the U.S. and am slowly reading it. I also picked up a handful of early kids books with one mystery to be solved for another post. I was surprised to find that basically a small number of librarians had a stranglehold on what was "appropriate or good" for children to read for a time.
But anyway what does determine the popularity of a Picturebook? For example Rackham, well his work is gorgeous to me. But other books perhaps not my style or taste. Is it the illustrations or the story?
I understand nostalgia for a childhood friend (ie a book) drives some popularity.
Any thoughts appreciated."
