Probably because the kinds of people for whom an event like this being "all over the news" matters at all aren't terribly likely to find a $60 oversized book all that appealing. On the other hand, a well-curated $25-$30 paperback might pique their curiousity, and be something they'd be willing to pick up on impulse.

In The Back Of Beyond: My photography blog. Everything seen through the camera of my iPhone.