Month: November 2015
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National Ambassador Kate DiCamillo on the Bonds Formed by Books
Since she was a child in Florida, DiCamillo has found a sense of homecoming in reading with family and friends. She feels privileged to have shared that experience with readers in her capacity as …
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Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Lincoln Center for The Performing Arts Launch “LC Kids Storytime at the Atrium,” A Monthly Author and Illustrator Reading Series
New York, NY — Little, Brown Books for Young Readers and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts are pleased to announce their partnership on “LC Kids Storytime at the Atrium,” a …
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Scholastic Releases Two New Professional Books on K–12 Literacy Instruction
Scholastic has released two new professional books for K–12 educators: ‘Every Child a Super Reader’ by Pam Allyn & Dr. Ernest Morrell, and Kwame Alexander’s ‘Page-to-Stage Writing Workshop.’ New York, NY – …
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The 2015 National Book Award Winners Revealed
During his acceptance speech, Shusterman brought his son Brendan — the inspiration for the story — to the stage to share in the moment. Shusterman recalled the difficulties his son Brendan …
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Ode to the Indie Bookstore
Here are just a few reasons to show your local indie some love year-round: Thoughtfully-curated collections Knowledgeable staff Author events and readings Shelf talkers and other personal touches Don’t forget …
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Supporting Young Readers with Mental Health Issues
YA services coordinator and founder of the Teen Librarian Toolbox blog Karen Jensen shares suggestions for creating a safe and supportive atmosphere in which teens can find support — both in person …
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Hunger Games Fans Appalled by Theme Park, Partner with Activist Organizations to Take Back the Narrative
Mockingjay, Part 2, the final installment of the Hunger Games series, hits theaters worldwide this week, but fan reactions have not been all positive. A storm of outrage brewed online …
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Humanity and Harmony at YALLFEST 2015
By Daniel Ehrenhaft, Editorial Director at Soho Teen/Soho Press
A brief note of thanks
I’ve had the privilege to serve on the CBC Diversity Committee for three years, and this blog post marks the end of my tenure. I want to express my gratitude to all members past and present for the opportunity to work with you, particularly the staff at the CBC. Owing in large part to your tireless efforts (and gigantic brains), the industry has made tremendous strides in publishing children’s books that reflect points of view, identities, backgrounds, and cultures in ways that would have been unthinkable even ten years ago. But our work as publishing professionals is just getting started. Your ongoing commitment reminds us all how far we have to go.
I originally intended to write something different, so I offer my apologies.
As a lucky attendee of YALLFEST 2015 I had a vague notion to write about the state of diversity among the authors, the panel topics, and the featured books at the festival. This is best left to its organizers, friends to whom I owe a debt of gratitude for being invited to participate. Upon arrival in Charleston, I learned about the horror and tragedy in Paris. It reinforced a collective obligation we had at YALLFEST this year: to honor Cynthia Hurd, a friend of the festival and a victim of the massacre at the local Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Charleston is a gorgeous city. It is also remarkable for its public commemoration of slave owners, for whom monuments were built, streets named, and respected civic organizations formed.
On Saturday my friend and fellow author, Andisheh Nouraee, picnicked in Marion Park with his family. We marveled at the statute of John C. Calhoun. No doubt Calhoun had good qualities. He was also arguably the most effective advocate for slavery in early 19th-century America. In Charleston, by design, he has been immortalized as a symbolic hero; I stayed at the Calhoun Street Marriott. Soon we were wondering: What would it be like for either of us to stay, say, at the Goering Street Marriott, across the street from a statue of Hermann Goering? “But he had good qualities; he won the Blue Max.” Would it be all that different from the environment in which Cynthia Hurd, a black librarian, lived and worked and served her community? She, too, had an irreverent sense of humor—funnier and more appropriate than ours, from what I’ve learned—in spite of a life spent among monuments to human beings who denied her essential humanity.
But complaints about Charleston’s history dishonor Cynthia Hurd. Without exception the locals I met treated one another with a unique ease and grace—with a kind of distinctive, collective goodwill that to an outsider like me feels specifically theirs. Nowhere was this better represented than in the members of the West Ashleigh High School Choir. Here were 40 teens of different backgrounds and ethnicities, united by their talent and love of music, harmonizing together in memory of Cynthia Hurd.
This is the soul of Charleston, not its statues or street names. These are the voices and faces of diversity. Remember them during your next acquisitions meeting, marketing campaign, or publicity program. We owe it to them to follow their example and to provide them with the literature they deserve.
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Penguin Random House Relaunches #GiveaBook Campaign
Now through December 24, Penguin Random House will donate one book to the literacy nonprofit First Book (up to 35,000 times) for each use of the #GiveaBook hashtag. Last year …
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Penguin Young Readers to Publish Parody of ‘The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep’
New York, NY — Penguin Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House, announced today that they will publish The Rabbit Who Wants to Go to Harvard by Diana Holquist and …
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The NSTA and CBC Reveal the 2016 Outstanding Science Trade Books
Since 1973, NSTA and CBC have collaborated on the list to provide educators with access to quality science books. The Outstanding Science list will be featured on both organizations’ websites and …
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Nominations Open for 28 Days Later: A Black History Month Showcase
The deadline for nominations is December 1, 2015. Click here for more details and to view previous honorees. Our mission is to raise awareness of the many African Americans creating books for …
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World Famous Feline Grumpy Cat Joins Iconic Little Golden Books Line in 2016
New York, NY — The iconic Little Golden Book format will extend its collection of beloved characters this July to include Grumpy Cat, the world’s most famous cat, as announced today …
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Kidsreads.com Announces a Major Update to Its Series Books Feature
Kidsreads.com has updated its Series feature, which now boasts close to 200 picture, elementary and middle grade series, both modern and classic. Readers can learn about each series and author …
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#DrawingDiversity: ‘Maria Had a Little Llama / María Tenía Una Llamita’ by Angela Dominguez
Maria Had a Little Llama / María Tenía Una Llamita. By Angela Dominguez (Henry Holt/@macmillankids, August 2013). All rights reserved.
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Edward Tulane’s Classroom Journey
Kate DiCamillo’s doll recently paid a visit to 5th grade students at the Thomas Jefferson School in Morristown, New Jersey. After reading all about his miraculous adventures, students had the chance to meet Edward …
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New Book From Top Parenting Bloggers Will Get Kids Reading Like “Rock Stars”
NEW YORK, NY – Popular parenting bloggers Amy Mascott (Teach Mama) and Allison McDonald (No Time for Flash Cards) debut their first-ever parenting book, Raising a Rock-Star Reader, to help …
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Amazon Editors Choose the Best Books of 2015
Best Books of 2015 Baby-Age 2 Ages 3-5 Ages 6-8 Ages 9-12 Top 20 Children’s Books of 2015 Best Young Adult Books of 2015 Best Books of 2015
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NYC Reads 365 Promotes Daily Reading
As part of the initiative, all pre-K-12 schools in the city will receive materials to encourage reading in the classroom and beyond. Resources include age-appropriate book lists, posters, bookmarks, and training …
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Aladdin to Publish New Illustrated Children’s Book by Beth Stern
New York, NY – Aladdin Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, will publish YODA GETS A BUDDY, an illustrated children’s book by television personality, animal activist, and …
