Year: 2016
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Klutz® to Launch Klutz® Jr. January 2017
New York, NY – Klutz, the creator of premium activity kits for kids, today announced plans to launch Klutz Jr., a book and craft kit product line for kids ages 4 …
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Promote Your Book in Story Monsters Ink™ Magazine!
Story Monsters Ink is a free subscription-based magazine by Five Star Publications, Inc., that gives parents and educators the latest news about award-winning and debut books, profiles on renowned and emerging authors, upcoming book …
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Submit for the Anansesem Caribbean Children’s Literature Ezine
Anansesem is currently seeking new works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and art from children’s authors and illustrators. For additional information and guidelines, visit anansesem.com. You may submit your online application here. …
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Warner Bros. Consumer Products Announces Global Publishing Partners For ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them’
Burbank, CA – Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) announced today a slate of new publishing partners signed on to support Warner Bros. Pictures’ highly anticipated return to J.K. Rowling’s Wizarding …
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#DrawingDiversity: ‘Dear Bunny’ by Katie Cotton, illustrated by Blanca Gomez
Dear Bunny by Katie Cotton, illustrated by Blanca Gomez (Quarto Kids, March 2016). All rights reserved.
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Harry Potter Fans are #ReadyForHermione, Run Global Literacy Campaign
Harry Potter fans are feeling the Herm. Hermione Granger, that is. It’s easy to feel disenchanted by the political process during election season, but the Harry Potter Alliance (HPA) is …
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B.J. Novak, Penguin Young Readers, Donate 10,000 Books to Children in Need
New York, NY – B.J. Novak, actor and #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book With No Pictures, will donate 5,000 copies of his acclaimed children’s book to …
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National Ambassador Gene Luen Yang’s Creativity in Progress Series
In his first post, Yang shares insider tricks for keeping characters consistent. Here’s an example of a model sheet used as reference for Yang’s upcoming graphic novel, Dragon Hoops:
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Storytime with Dogs
At the Scarsdale Public Library in New York, therapy dogs and their owners are paired with kids for storytime activities; and media specialist Mary Hamer is bringing dogs into classrooms …
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Scholastic Releases Cover of Upcoming Illustrated Edition of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
New York, NY – Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), the global children’s publishing, education and media company, today for the first time released the cover image of the fully illustrated edition of …
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“Niche” Numbers
Contributed by Nikki Garcia, Assistant Editor, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
There are a lot of well-meaning people in publishing who work hard to create more diversity in books. But unfortunately there can also be times when excuses are made for not highlighting diversity through books:
*There isn’t enough of an audience to buy these books.
*It’s difficult to reach that market.
*That market is too niche.
*We have too many tough issue books.
These are just a few I’ve heard over the years across the industry. No single group or department is more to blame than the other. When I acquire a diverse book, I often have to think about how to get my point across at various meetings, like an acquisitions meeting. I want to make sure that marketing, sales, and publicity know that there is indeed a market and audience for this book, so I often look for statistics to support my case:
- In November 2015, the Census Bureau reported that at least
350 languages were spoken in homes across the United States.
- In July 2014, over 42 million people identified as Black or
African American, over 3.9 million identified as American Indian and Alaska
Native, more than 17 million identified as Asian, and almost 8 million people
identified with two or more races.
- In July 2014, the Hispanic population of the United States
was at 55 million, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest racial
minority.
- In 2014, there were 46.7 million people in poverty.
- In 2014, over 783,000 households were of same-sex couples.
- In 2010, over 62,000 children under the age of 15 years old were reported as having a disability.
I think it’s difficult for some to see a world outside of their own—a world that’s full of children and adults from different walks of life. Sometimes, there are people who are unable to look beyond their own race, lifestyle, and income, and who forget that there are other groups of people who exist—people who will buy “niche” books. But I hope that with each day, we stop looking towards easy excuses.
I think it helps to keep reminding our peers of the big picture. If you’re an author or writer trying to bring more diversity to children’s literature, know that statistics are on your side. There is a child who can relate to your characters and there is definitely an audience for your book.
Nikki Garcia is an assistant editor at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers where she works on books for all ages. During her time at LBYR, she has had the honor of working with picture book authors such as Peter Brown and Frank Viva, as well as novelists such as Wendy Mass, Matthew Quick, and Holly Black. Born and raised right here in New York City, Nikki graduated from St. John’s University, and thankfully didn’t have to travel very far to make her dreams come true.
- In November 2015, the Census Bureau reported that at least
350 languages were spoken in homes across the United States.
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James Patterson and Scholastic Renew Pledge to Help Save School Libraries!
New York, NY— James Patterson will personally donate another $1.75 million to school libraries this year, in the second installment of his School Library Campaign. In partnership with Scholastic Reading …
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Candlewick Press to Launch New Imprint
Inaugural titles include Animals, a picture book by Swedish designer Ingela P. Arrhenius, and An Artist’s Alphabet by illustrator Norman Messenger. We hope that even from across a bookstore, Candlewick Studio titles will …
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Celebrate Children and Books
April 30, 2016 will be the 20th anniversary of Children’s Day / Book Day. Celebrate by reading to a child in your life. To learn more, visit http://www.patmora.com/whats-dia and http://www.patmora.com/dia-planning-booklet. …
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Submit for the 2016 WNDB™ Walter Dean Myers Grant
Eligibility Applicants must identify as diverse Applicants must be unpublished as illustrators and/or authors. This includes both trade publishing and self-publishing. Essays, short stories, and articles do not render an …
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Scholastic Reports Fiscal 2016 Third Quarter Results
New York, NY – Scholastic Corporation (NASDAQ: SCHL), the global children’s publishing, education and media company, today reported financial results for the Company’s fiscal 2016 third quarter ended February 29, 2016. …
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Help Students Turn the Summer Slide into the Summer Leap with Literacy Resources from Scholastic
Scholastic Offers Wide-Ranging Resources to Help Educators Strengthen Students’ Literacy Skills by Promoting Summer Reading and Writing New York, NY – March 28, 2016 – The Scholastic campaign to encourage …
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#DrawingDiversity: ‘The Storyteller’ by Evan Turk
The Storyteller by Evan Turk (Atheneum BFYR/Simon & Schuster, June 2016). All rights reserved. @simonandschusterbooks
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Behind the Scenes of Tuck Everlasting: the Musical
First published in 1975, Tuck Everlasting is the timeless tale of a young girl named Winnie who encounters a family with the power of eternal life. Author Tim Federle hopes to do …
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Robert McCloskey’s Make Way For Ducklings Celebrates 75th Anniversary in 2016
Seventy five years ago, a family of ducks waddled off the page and into the hearts of readers everywhere in Robert McCloskey’s Caldecott Medal winning MAKE WAY FOR DUCKLINGS (9781101997956; …
