History and Mission

Mission

We are dedicated to supporting the children’s publishing industry through programming that connects and educates publishing professionals, advocates for a more inclusive industry, and shines a light on the books, creators, and resources available for young readers.

The CBC offers children’s publishers:

• News & information
• Educational programming
• Early career development
• Advocacy of diversity in hiring and book publication
• Opportunities – via events, awards, and other submission calls – to feature your books and creators
  • Panels and programs at conventions, Cons, and conferences
  • Awards from STEM to social justice
  • Various book lists and showcases
• Access to powerful partnerships with other major national organizations on event programming and literacy initiatives
• Participation in Every Child a Reader’s national literacy programs, including Children’s Book Week, Get Caught Reading and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

Our members span the spectrum from large international houses to smaller independent presses. Membership in the CBC is open to North American-based publishers of children’s books, as well as those producing children’s book-related original content.

PUBLISHERS: learn more about the benefits of membership.

History of the Children’s Book Council

In 1919, at the urging of Franklin K. Mathiews, Librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, Children’s Book Week (CBW) was founded to focus attention on the need for quality children’s books and the importance of childhood literacy.

In 1944-1945, Frederick Melcher, then editor of Publishers Weekly, entrusted the responsibility for Children’s Book Week to the newly-established Association of Children’s Book Editors. As this group expanded Book Week activities, it evolved into what is now known as the Children’s Book Council (CBC).

Since that time, the CBC has sponsored Children’s Book Week, now the nation’s longest-running literacy initiative. In 2008, Every Child a Reader — a 501 (c)(3) literacy non-profit dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children — became responsible for the overall administration of the initiative.

Over the past 70 years, the CBC has developed from an organization created to oversee Children’s Book Week into an active and vibrant advocate for the children’s publishing industry.

Our work includes educational programming for employees of our member publishers, collaborative projects with other national organizations, and literacy initiatives that highlight the quality and variety of children’s literature available today.