• The ECC Questionnaire

Q&A with Jon Colman, Executive Director of The Children’s Book Council | January 26, 2016

What drew you to the world of publishing? 
The mission of The Children’s Book Council organization. I am interested in their goals of fostering literacy and promoting reading at a young age.

As the executive director, what excites you about the role of The Children’s Book Council in the children’s publishing world? 
I think the CBC plays a critical role in the industry. The CBC is in an unique position in that we get to directly interact with publishers, as well as advocate for the general public. I like to think that the CBC’s programming and initiatives help link those worlds together. The committees we organize, for example, are run by industry professionals, but tackle actual consumer concerns. For example, the CBC Diversity Committee is dedicated to making sure diverse representation is reflected in the books our members publish, and the people they recruit. The CBC not only gets to look at publishing from an unusual angle, but also functions as an agent of change within the industry. 

How did you originally get into non-profit work? What was your first job in non-profit?
I’m interested in work related to servicing communities and resolving problems in the world around us. My first job in non-profit was as an Executive Director at an environment-related non-profit. Before joining the CBC, I was the president of the National Down Syndrome Society.

A new National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature was inaugurated this year. What about this ambassadorship excites you the most? 
I am excited about Gene Yang’s ambassadorship because of his background in graphic novels. I think it’s important to embrace the kinds of storytelling young people are drawn to. Some parents discourage their kids from reading comic books, which ends up discouraging them from reading in general. Yang says he believes reading breaks down barriers in learning about different communities, and I think his appointment as ambassador will also break down the barriers for presenting graphic novels as legitimate and worthwhile. 

What is your favorite children’s book from the past or present? 
I am currently reading The Honest Truth by Dan Gemeinhart (Scholastic, 2014) and enjoying it very much. 

What is your daughters’s favorite book right now?
I actually don’t know, though I’m sure it’s something good!