Penguin Books has been a recognisable brand for over 70 years, to both professionals and consumers alike. Today Penguin is renowned for their selection of contemporary and classic titles and with such widespread popularity, their online presence should accurately reflect the reputation of their publishing house.

Initial Impressions 

The website initially overwhelms the browser with a number of different features either beyond or entirely unrelated to books, such as Penguin Dating and Podcasting. However, the colours used on the homepage are directly connected to the Penguin logo and as complimentary and subtle shades; they provide the website with a calm appearance. To contrast the background the site uses bright segments of orange to guide the reader’s eye around the page, but at times it is difficult to choose whether to move through the information horizontally or vertically. The site has a great amount to offer on a number of different topics, providing the impression that Penguin Books is a relevant and informed publishing house. The site continually re-enforces the Penguin brand by incorporating the company name into each element, such as “Penguin Recommends” and “Penguin Politics.”

The Purpose

The site is primarily designed to inform the browser about a variety of topics, from author interviews and book events to local workshops and reading groups. The intention of these features is to generate interest for new and old titles, but also to attract a broad demographic concerned with different aspects and methods of interacting with books. For example the website is clearly up to date with the current social media available, offering RSS feeds, as well as Twitter and Facebook pages; appealing to a younger audience, already familiar with the internet and its popular features. The site does not target young children, but browsers are able to connect to Puffin Books through the Children’s tab at the top of the homepage. However, the tab takes the browser to a “Penguin Children” section, remaining within the adult website and browsers are required to select an alternate link from this page to reach the website for Puffin Books. The “Penguin Children” section does have a number of convenient links that directly connects to popular characters such as, Spot and Peter Rabbit.

The Products Available

The site also offers a number of products that initially appear to be unconnected to books; such as mugs, espresso cups, pencils, tea towels and deck chairs. The range of products shows how Penguin applies their brand to objects incorporated within homes, emphasizing their status as one of the biggest publishing houses in the world. The site does attempt to relate each of the products to reading by quoting individuals who suggest that reading has a natural affinity with coffee or tea-drinking, making a line of mugs printed with Penguin Classic titles an original combination. The language also plays on literary connections with phrases, such as “drawing on inspiration” for their pencil collection and “a literary lifestyle” for their deck chairs; each of these products is connected back to reading or writing, in an attempt to create a literary relevance for these products and make them appear desirable to book lovers.

Overall Review

The Penguin Books website does communicate elements of their mandate as a publisher of quality contemporary and classic fiction; however, the homepage could be designed to have a much cleaner and classic appearance, providing more links and tabs rather than condensed information throughout the page. The links and tabs would also give the browser the option to choose which information to access, so that new and old release titles could be displayed more prominently. Similarly certain content such as Penguin Dating, Podcasting could be placed at the bottom of the page, with the alternate Penguin group and brand sites being moved towards the top for easier access. A direct link to Puffin Books should be displayed next to the “Children” tab, so that browsers are able to distinguish between the two houses and locate titles more efficiently. If Penguin Books would like to encourage more readers to buy online the shopping trolley symbol should appear on the homepage and more offers and discounts should be available on the website. The current website could be more directly concerned with books, with alternate information about unrelated topics being given less space or even displayed on an independent website with an advertising link. Penguin Books is an established and respected publisher, but their website could be improved upon to better reflect their reputation.

Feel free to share information about the exemplary (or troubling) publishing websites you’ve visited. 

I believe it’s important to provide children with stimulating literature that encourages imaginative and constructive thinking. The best books can develop reading and writing skills, increasing a child’s vocabularly and improving their ability to control language. The best books I have read include a strong, but flawed protagonist who has to work through everyday challenges set against a greater backdrop with conflicting social, moral or fantastical elements.

Each book is a testament to the spirit of a child and attempts to reach beyond the boundaries inherent within adult thinking. The authors know they are writing for an audience that has a different set of limitations and subsequently their writing conveys the enjoyment they take within creating an amazing journey.

A List of the Best Young Adult Fiction Novels

Here are a list of some of the best books for young adults:

The Percy Jackson & Olympian Series by Rick Riordan

Below is an interview with Rick Riordan concerning the Demigod Files, a companion book to the Percy Jackson & Olympian series.

The Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud

Click here to visit the official website for the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud. 

The Thief Lord by Cornelia Funke 

To learn more about The Thief Lord click here.

The Roald Dahl Treasury 

Below is a video providing a virtual tour of Aylesbury’s Road Dahl gallery:

If there are any young adult fiction books you would to like to share, please comment and I will update the list.

Though I will always support the print format of a book, I believe a compromise should be made so that the carbon footprint of publishing is reduced. Ebooks are one way of doing so and I think we are on the cusp of a changing publishing environment; whereby more and more of the next generation will be willing to engage with the digital format of books.   

For a list of available ebooks go to:  eBooks.com and to learn more about eBooks you can visit the Wikipedia page right here.

Cast off the winter chill and gear up for spring! Our guide has all the resources you need for a great start to the season.

What to Plant

Glory of the snow (chionodoxa luciliae) is one of the earliest flowers to bloom in spring. This brightly coloured bulb originates from the Mediterranean and is one of the hardiest bulbs you can have in your garden.

Glory of the snow need very little care to flourish, adding great variety to a well defined flowering palette. The grass-like leaves appear in early spring and towards the end of March the bulbs form sprays of small, six-petalled blooms generally in shades of blue, but they also appear in pink and white. The flower lasts for approximately two weeks or more before disappearing until the next year.

Lavender (lavandula) has been used for a number of purposes since antiquity; boasting culinary, medicinal and aesthetic value.

Lavender is one of the harder plants to grow, but by choosing the right species and landscape you can grow this classic in your own back garden. The best variety to grow in Ontario is the English lavandula angustifolia, a hardier species that can fare well amidst harsh temperatures.

For more information on lavender and its uses click here.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) considered the “king of herbs,” is a perennial plant originally native to tropical regions of Asia.

Basil is one of the easiest herbs to grow, as long as its environment has suitable light and temperature levels. In Canada basil grows best during late spring or summer, when there is little chance of frost. The herb appears in varying leaf colours and sizes, combining nicely with other garden plants.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) makes a great addition to any herb garden due to its wonderful fragrance and taste. The plant also has aesthetic appeal, developing small flowers in late spring.

Rosemary is a perennial and can be grown all year around, its flowers appear in blue, pink, white and purple and its leaves are evergreen. Rosemary is primarily known for its culinary attributions, but is also used in landscaping, particularly in areas with a Mediterranean climate.

Where and How to Plant it

Glory of the snow is best suited to rockeries, but can also be placed along garden paths, under trees or in elevated flower beds.

Plant the glory of the snow bulbs three inches deep, each spread one to three inches apart, in any kind of soil. The bulbs can receive either full sun or light shade, but in warmer climates moderate shade is necessary to prevent the flowers from fading too quickly. Glory of the snow appreciates moist soil so keep plants watered consistently throughout the growing season. 

For more ideas on how to plant and care for glory of the snow click here.

Lavender looks best as bunches next to rocky areas and as edging for garden borders.

Lavender plants will tolerate many growing conditions, but it thrives in warm, well-drained soil and full sun. Non-acidic soil is preferable to enhance the fragrance, whilst lean soil will encourage a higher concentration of oils. Once established, lavender is a tough plant and extremely drought resistant.

Watch the following instructional video for more advice on how to grow your own lavender.

Basil can be grown outside in vegetable garden rows, in herb gardens or in clumps along flower borders.

Grow basil in well-drained soil of average fertility in full sun, spacing each seed about ten inches apart. The soil should be well dug to allow good air circulation, adding organic compost to the soil a month before sowing will also help aeration. Make sure to water the soil around plants and not the leaves in order to prevent leaf spots.

Watch the follwing instructional video for more advice on how to grow your own basil.

Rosemary can similarly be grown outside in vegetable or herb gardens, or in groups near flower borders; where it takes well to pruning and can be made into conical or round topiaries.

Rosemary is usually propagated by cuttings, as seeds can be difficult to germinate. Choose a site that gets full sun or very light afternoon shade and has excellent drainage (raised beds are ideal). Plant at any time, setting transplants into the ground at the same depth they were growing in their nursery pots. Leave at least two feet all around to ensure good air circulation.

Click here for more information on how to grow and propagate rosemary.

Have more flowers and herbs you’d like to hear about? Go to our website www.onthedanforth.ca and send in your suggestions and queries.

If you have had previous experiences with any of the plants mentioned, please go to our website and share your stories and ideas with us. The first 10 responses will receive free copies of Passport to Gardening: A Sourcebook for the Twenty-First Century Gardener by Katherine Lailberte.

Course: PB255 Online Magazines
26th January 2009

The Walrus

The Walrus offers a number of different ways to access RSS feeds, along with a variety of web-based news readers, such as Google and My Yahoo. The site also offers an RSS reader widget that enables browsers to view Podcasts or upload their own. The Walrus also has a burgeoning blog section, which tackles news events from around the world.
These features communicate the adaptive ability of the website and subsequently its relevance within a technological age. By offering more online, the magazine is also appealing to another demographic, a newer generation that naturally interacts through the web. For both professionals and the general public the RSS feeds are an efficient means of accessing desired data in a convenient manner.

Bon Appétit

Bon Appétit supplies thirteen web-based readers to access their RSS feeds, such as My MSN and Newsgator. The site also offers groups for the magazine on popular websites such as Facebook and Flickr, along with a dedicated YouTube channel that browsers can subscribe to. The blogs and forum section provides a space for informed discussion of topics related to the magazine and beyond.
The online magazine provides a different means for readers and browsers to interact with Bon Appétit content. The site targets readers of the magazine and those with a general interest in cooking, but publishing professionals can also access useful information in a timely manner. Marketers and advertisers can use figures for the number of hits/views in certain areas to bring more appealing content to both the online and tangible magazine.

Quill & Quire

Quill & Quire has a number of different web-readers through which to subscribe to the RSS feeds, such as Bloglines and Netvibes. The Quillblog also has a number of stories that can be saved, passed on and commented on through the “share this” feature, accessing over thirty social web services. The Q & Q Omni provides members with archival information and bi-weekly updates on news in the publishing industry.
All the features collectively appeal to an expansive social demographic by connecting with a variety of different websites. By projecting the Quill & Quire brand through many mediums the site reaches a wider audience and generates greater attention for the tangible magazine as well. The Q & Q Omni feature also ensures that publishing professionals have access to more information, faster.