December sales figures grew in several categories tracked by the Association of American Publishers providing a year-end boost for some.

Religious books were among those categories that made gains; sales were up 0.5% (totaling $22.7 million). The category maintains a 5.6% year-to-date growth figure.

In general, children's young adult hardcover books had a banner month, and the adult paperback category witnessed a similar gain, tempering the returns of other categories, as well as providing a boost for those categories.

Sales of adult hardcover books dipped 4.9% in December, with sales of $98.2 million (up 6.3% for the year). Adult paperback sales witnessed a 9.4% growth in December (with sales of $95.9 million), with the year-to-date figure up 2.8%.

The children's and young adult hardcover category posted a 90.5% gain in December ($49.4 million); this category, however, retains a 16.7% lower sales figure than last year's year to date figure. The children's and young adult paperback publishing sales witnessed a 12% gain in December with sales totaling $26.9 million. This category has gained 3.8% in 2004.

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