Slightly Off Topic: Different Covers for the Same Book

Today I'd like to talk about some of the alternative covers we see on books. This happens fore a variety of reasons. One of the most common examples is a movie-tie-in edition that comes out with the movie poster art. Another reason a book might come out with different covers is because one is designed to market to a different audience (like adult vs. YA). A familiar example would be the covers for the Harry Potter books. Some of them are different because they're paperback vs. hardcover. Others are international cover art.

First up: The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman.

The first is, I believe, a limited edition printing marketed to adults. With a toddler walking a bloody knife blade accompanied by a ghost, it is certainly appropriate to the story. However, it's CREEPY! I can see why they chose to go with the much less scary child's silhouette/tombstone cover most of us will be familiar with.

Next, a variety of international covers for Twilight by Stephenie Meyer:Clockwise from top left.First is the cover we all know and love from the North American version. #2 is the Japan cover art. #3 is from the Czech Republic, and I think is has a VERY different feel from the others. #4 is the cover from Indonesia, where I guess Bella is blonde. Or maybe she's not pretty enough so they put Rosalie on the cover. You can see more international covers at Stephenie Meyer's website.

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan. I'm just guessing, but I think this book has multiple covers because the look was changed on later editions to work better with the covers of the subsequent books in the series. The cover on the most recent paperback editions is the far right.

There are so many examples of different covers that I could never show them all to you. What about this batch? Which one of each group do you like best? Did the marketing magicians make the right choice?