The AAP released its August StatShot showing combined adult and children net trade sales of $648 million, up $46 million from last year. However, publishers didn’t ship many more books than they did last year in August; the gains persist because returns have been consistently lower this year. Shipments totaled $744 million, up just $5 million from last year, with returns (30) percent lower. Adult trade sales had another good month, $53 million higher at $453 million, up $52 million from last year. But children’s sales declined, falling $8 million to $194 million — with the total of $647 million […]