MORE 'UNFORTUNATE-COVERS' POSTS

Vote for the Best (Worst?) Unfortunate Cover

Travis Jonker, November 11, 2009 | Unfortunate Covers



“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” – John Quincy Adams In what might be the most irresponsible application of this noble exercise in recent memory, I now implore you to browse the gallery of Unfortunate Covers below and vote […]

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Unfortunate Covers (#11)

Travis Jonker, August 18, 2009 | Unfortunate Covers



Sometimes a cover doesn’t match the tone of the book it’s wrapped around. Such is the case of our most recent Unfortunate Cover candidate: Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson. The world’s most listless treasure hunt. I feel like the artist was working with some models who weren’t that into it. Cover Artist: “Alright, we […]

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Unfortunate Covers (#10)

Travis Jonker, June 4, 2009 | Unfortunate Covers



To review: Unfortunate Cover = Good Book + Cover Which is Doing No Favors for Shelf Appeal of Said Good Book. Some Unfortunate Covers picks have been downright tough to call out. Especially #3 and #9: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7, #8, #9. This one? This is really like shooting fish in a […]

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Unfortunate Covers (#9)

Travis Jonker, April 16, 2009 | Unfortunate Covers



The 3rd entry in the (nonexistent) 100 Scope Notes Encyclopedia of Children’s Lit defines an Unfortunate Cover as such: A book that is held in high literary esteem, but features cover artwork which detracts from overall shelf appeal. Just for the record, encyclopedia entry #2 was for “Reese’s Eggs” (added at 3:30 p.m. on Easter […]

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Unfortunate Covers (#8)

Travis Jonker, March 12, 2009 | Unfortunate Covers



It’s been a little bit since our last Unfortunate Cover, so take a look at past picks if you need your memory jogged: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5, #6, #7. Our latest entry into the series is so unappealing, it almost doesn’t deserve comment. Almost! One of the schools where I work is putting on […]

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Unfortunate Covers (#7)

Travis Jonker, December 3, 2008 | Unfortunate Covers



What you see above is my all-time favorite bad album cover. Believe it or not, this was hanging on my wall for the duration of my junior and senior years of college. The difference between this bad album cover and the latest Unfortunate Cover is what’s on the inside. The record that was inside the […]

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Unfortunate Covers (#6)

Travis Jonker, September 25, 2008 | Unfortunate Covers



(Take a look at previous Unfortunate Covers. #1, #2, #3, #4, #5) While I was going through the fiction shelves the other day, I came across a book cover that I’d seen years ago, but had forgotten all about. This, the sixth entry into the ongoing Unfortunate Covers series is the first title that I […]

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Unfortunate Covers (#5)

Travis Jonker, September 4, 2008 | Unfortunate Covers



What makes a cover unfortunate? Well, it happens when you follow this recipe: 1) Take one good book (the higher the quality the better – a classic is best) 2) Slather on a cover that only a mother could love 3) Allow it to rest on the shelf 4) Serve after it has expired by […]

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Unfortunate Covers (#4)

Travis Jonker, July 23, 2008 | Unfortunate Covers



For this edition of the ongoing Unfortunate Covers series, we’re back to Roald Dahl. Another great book with a cover that isn’t helping the cause: “Danny the Champion of the World” Even though I took lengthy measures to avoid math after high school, I’d like to put an equation out there for cover art designers: […]

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Unfortunate Covers (#3)

Travis Jonker, June 27, 2008 | Unfortunate Covers



This one was difficult to include in the ongoing Unfortunate Covers series (click here for #1 and #2), but unfortunate it seems to be – at least in the eyes of some of the students I work with. “Bridge to Terabithia” is an outstanding story, a Newbery winner, and it made me cry like “Beaches” […]

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