This meme was started by Books by Proxy, whose fabulous idea was to compare UK and US book covers and decide which is we prefer. This meme is currently being nurtured by Lynn’s Book Blog and the object this week featuring on any of our covers or the story is an AMULET, so I’ve selected a book I haven’t yet had the pleasure of reading, The Story of the Amulet – Book 3 of the Five Children series by E. Nesbit.
This edition was produced by Penguin Classics in March 1995. I love the artwork and the green-hued backdrop which gives a real sense of the drama and danger of a trip back to Egypt. But that clunky red something doesn’t remotely resemble any amulet I’ve ever seen – what a shame, given the wonderful lighting giving it centre stage. And my other peeve is that dreadful red text box plonked right across all that fabulous detail…
Published by Penguin Classics in March 2018, this is a much better effort. The colouring is attractive and I love the scene within a scene, giving a hint of the time travelling theme. The style, along with the children featured in the Egypt makes it clear this is a children’s story. I also love that font – this is my favourite.
Produced by Smk Books in March 2009, the amulet featured on the front of this cover is beautiful and draws the eye, while the font is attractive and easy to read. However, my concern is that there is nothing on this cover that informs the reader that this is a children’s book.
This Kindle edition is certainly eye-catching. But the golden rule must be that a cover should reflect the content and the etched figures being swallowed up as they enter that brooding gothic building give a sense that it’s a horror story. And it isn’t – it is a lesser-known book in one of the most famous early fantasy tales for children.
This is another attractive, striking contender, published by Virago in 2018. The warm yellow backdrop is welcoming and I love all the details on the cover that directly link up to the content. While the title is inoffensively clear, I do feel that Times New Roman is a bit joyless for one of the first time-travelling adventures written for children. It’s the main reason why this one isn’t my favourite – but what do you think?
Brainfluff 
I love your favorite, Sarah, and I also am drawn to that last one. Now I really want to read this one- love children’s books like this!
I’ve only read the first book in this series ‘Five Children and It’, Jennifer – have you read any of these books?
Hard to believe these are the same book.
Cover 1 I had the same initial reaction but after looking at Cover 2 and realizing that it referenced Egypt, the image on cover 1 became clearer to me – it has the general shape of an ankh which is an Egyptian symbol. The last cover has a similar-ish shape as well. But, yeah, I can’t tell from these covers what the story is really – artistically my faves are probably the 2nd and the 4th ones…and I agree the 3rd doesn’t seem like a children’s book at all.
Thank you for your thoughtful comments, Joanne – it’s not too often that a book has such a wide variety of covers, but it’s been around for a while so I suppose that’s the reason.
I like the second and the last covers. The font in the last one doesn’t bother me much – the cover itself is quite busy. The other three I don’t like at all 🙂
I think that’s an understandable reaction, Inessa:)). I do wonder if it’s the fact that the book has been in print for such a long time has caused such a wide divergence in the approach to the covers.
Oh I agree with you 🙂
I like your favorite, Sarah. It does suggest a children’s book and it is enchanting.
Thank you, Laura – I haven’t yet read this one, but I’m quite tempted given that Nesbit consulted H.G. Wells on the subject of time travel and then complained that he’d overwhelmed her with far too much detail:)
Cover nr. 3 is the most eye-catching, thanks to the contrast between the black background and the gold in the amulet, but you’re right in stressing the fact that it does look more like a book for grown-ups rather than children, who might not be attracted by this images as an adult might…
Yes – I enjoyed it, but now I’ve self published my own books, I’m hyper-aware of what a HUGE difference covers make!
Gosh there is some real differences in these covers, and as you said some of them give no indication that this is a children’s book. My favourite is the second one, it just draws me to it and makes me want to pick the book up. I also like the last one but agree with you about the font choice.
Yes – it’s odd, isn’t it? You’d think the first thing the publishers would want to make clear is that the book is written for children…
I still like the third cover best even though ,as you point out it doesn’t look like a children’s book.
I agree that the amulet on the front is absolutely stunning, Rae:)
Love the Penguin Classics edition. The bright colors make the artwork so charming!
Yes – I think the word ‘charming’ really sums up this cover – I certainly didn’t see one that I thought worked better for this book.
I’m with you on that second cover–it’s colorful without being obtrusive, and it’s clear on the intended audience, which most of those other covers aren’t. A fine choice!
Thank you, Jean:). And sign-posting who the intended audience are has to be the main function of a book cover – other than keeping the pages from falling onto the floor…
I absolutely love the first one despite the large chunks of red. I love the green backdrop and the spotlight on the amulet. I also love the font.
The second one I’m not crazy about. I don’t really like the orange. The next one has a pretty amulet but I agree, you wouldn’t know it was for children. The next one is dark and unclear. I don’t like it at all. The last one would be my second favorite. I like the colors and all that’s going on in the picture. But, I agree, the font isn’t exciting.
Thank you for your thorough and informed comment – I always love seeing which covers visitors prefer. And thank you so much for the reblog, Wanda!
You’re welcome! I really enjoy seeing the different covers and being able to voice my opinion!
Reblogged this on Wanda Luthman's Children's Books and commented:
This is one of my favorite things—Friday Faceoff! Here are several different covers of the same book and people weigh in on which ones they like best. They do not always feature children’s books, but this time they do. Also, Sarah Higbee’s blog is one of my favorites. While you’re here, poke around and check it out. She’s also an author. If you like science fiction, you’ll enjoy her books.
For me it was a toss up between the first two. The read doesn’t bother me in the image, but the box with the title is way too large. Having said that, with it being a Children’s Story, then I would have to say the second one would be my choice.
Thank you for your input, Carla – I am always fascinated to discover what people think about the selection of covers:))
I agree with your favorite! And the 3rd and 4th covers don’t look at all like children’s books!
Thank you! And it’s really important to at least let your reading audience know it’s a book for children, isn’t it?
I like the second one and the last one. The last probably would have been my favorite because the art itself is beautiful, but I agree about the blah font.
I’m always surprised how often the font gets overlooked on covers – especially these days when there is such a choice.
I’m with you this week Sarah. I quite like the black and white version but it does make me feel like the book is more sinister than it sounds like.
Lynn 😀
And that’s really an unforgivable sin in a book cover, isn’t it?
This time, I share your favorite – this is the best one of them all.
Your choice also got me excited, because this is the book I’ve read when I was 8 or 9 and loved it.
I believe this was the Polish edition I had: https://allcollect.pl/userdata/gfx/71f5bca71e15c38916c81495a3900ae8.jpg
The funny part? I don’t think I’ve read the two previous books first. It seems that my youth’s reading habits were similar to yours. 😉