Blog
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Using Picture Books to Promote Early Literacy
Reading picture books together promotes five key areas of language development: expanding vocabulary; modeling appropriate social language; auditory comprehension; developing literacy concepts, and narrative sequencing. Visit Brightly for more literacy tips …
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Christopher Myers to Launch Make Me a World Imprint With Random House Children’s Books
New York, NY — Christopher Myers, award-winning author and artist, and son of the late acclaimed author Walter Dean Myers, will launch his own imprint with Random House Children’s Books, MAKE …
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Carl Lennertz Named Executive Director of the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader
The former executive director of World Book Night U.S. and creator of the American Booksellers Association’s Book Sense Children’s and Adult Bestseller and Indie Next lists, Lennertz brings years of experience in bookselling, sales, …
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Books for Babies Project
Students begin the project by researching the importance of early literacy and collecting evidence to present in letters to new parents. Next, each child selects a title from the Scholastic book club …
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Unpublished Beatrix Potter Illustrations Discovered
The illustrations were found inside Melford Hall, a mansion owned by relatives of Potter. The drawings, which depict interiors and exteriors at Melford, provide rare a glimpse into her work outside of children’s …
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United for Libraries Dedicates Literary Landmarks For Erich Maria Remarque and E. L. Doctorow
PHILADELPHIA, PA — United for Libraries, in partnership with the Empire State Center for the Book, recently dedicated two Literary Landmarks on the same New York City block. The dedications, …
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Harry Potter Alliance Casts Protective Shield Spell With Trans Community in New Protego Campaign
This summer, the Harry Potter Alliance is kicking off a campaign to empower transgender people, educate cisgender people on how to be effective allies, and provides resources for everyone to …
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Disney Publishing Worldwide Announces the First Book in a New Series by the #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of the Pretty Little Liars Series, Sara Shepard
Los Angeles, CA — Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW) announced today the release ofthe first book in a new series by the New York Times best-selling author of the Pretty Little …
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#DrawingDiversity: ‘Swing Sisters’ illustrated by Joe Cepeda
Swing Sisters: The Story of the International Sweethearts of Rhythm by Karen Deans, illustrated by Joe Cepeda (January 2015, Holiday House). All rights reserved.
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Expansion of BISAC Codes for Graphic Novels
BISAC codes are the standardized descriptors for books used across the publishing and bookselling industries. Effective January 2017, new graphic novel headings will be implemented in the Juvenile Fiction, Juvenile Nonfiction, Young Adult …
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CBC Diversity Presents “Writing and Editing Authentic Voices”
Authors Matt de la Peña and Patricia McCormick were joined by industry insiders Kate Sullivan (senior editor at Delacorte) and Marietta Zacker (Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency). The discussion was moderated by Ashley Woodfolk, marketing manager at Macmillan Children’s …
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Bestselling Author Tyler Knott Gregson and Co-Author Sarah Linden Celebrate True Spirit of Christmas With ‘North Pole Ninjas: Mission: Chrismas!,’ a New Holiday Book and Tradition, Coming This Fall From Penguin Young Readers
New York, NY – This year children can celebrate the true spirit of Christmas by becoming an honorary North Pole Ninja, in a new holiday tradition with NORTH POLE NINJAS: …
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National Ambassador Gene Luen Yang’s Creativity in Progress Series: Part 4
In his latest post, Yang shares his approach to thumbnails, small sketches of each page in a graphic novel. Yang prefers to place his sketches and script side-by-side on the page (as seen below), …
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Celebrating 20 years of the Pura Belpré Book Award
The award was established in 1996 in recognition of outstanding children’s literature that portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience. Below is a video retrospective that premiered at the recent …
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My Socioeconomic Diversity Wish List
Contributed by Nikki Garcia, assistant editor, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Six months ago, I wrote a post for the CBC Diversity blog discussing socioeconomic diversity and my personal struggles with financial security as a child. I wish there were more children’s books when I was growing up that didn’t make me feel different. So for this post, I want to name some books that are showing young readers a different economic view—a view through a different but important lens. Because you just never know who is struggling to make ends meet.
Here is my book wish list for my younger self:
Picture Books
Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts takes on one of the most common ways young children notice something is different: they start to notice all the new and cool things other children have, because their family buys what they “need” versus what they “want.”
Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña also approaches the same topic in a similar way. CJ takes the bus with his Grandma every day, but one day he starts noticing how he’s different from everyone else. Why don’t they have a car? And why do they get off the bus in a dirty part of town?
Middle Grade
Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate is about a family that has fallen on hard times. With little money for rent and food, they are forced to live in their minivan.
In Minna’s Patchwork Coat by Lauren A. Mills, Minna’s family cannot afford a winter coat, so she is forced to use an old feed sack, until her neighbors come together and create a coat out of scraps of old fabric.
Young Adult
Sorta Like a Rock Star by Matthew Quick shows a young girl living with her mom and dog in the back of a school bus since her mom’s boyfriend kicked them out. Always optimistic, her ability to hope for a better future is constantly tested.
Tell Us We’re Home by Marina Budhos is the story of three girls living among the wealthy, but with one big difference: they are the daughters of maids and nannies, and because of this, they live by different rules.
These are just a few books that show socioeconomic diversity across all age groups. Children are never too young or too old to learn about different families.
Do you know any books that discuss socioeconomic diversity, and touched your heart? Please let us know in the comments—I’m always looking to add to my book wish list.
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 authors such as Peter Brown, Wendy Mass, Matthew Quick, and Monica Brown. 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.
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Scholastic Acquires Four Books by Nine-Year-Old Reporter Hilde Lysiak
Hilde Cracks the Case Series to Launch in Fall 2017 As part of Branches Line of Early Chapter Books New York, NY—June 30, 2016¾ Scholastic (NASDAQ: SCHL), the global children’s …
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Random House U.S. and Penguin Random House U.K. Children’s Divisions to Publish ‘The Elephant Who Wants to Fall Asleep,’ The Follow-Up to The #1 International Bestseller ‘The Rabbit Who Wants to Fall Asleep’ By Carl-Johan Forssén Ehrlin
New York and London — The Random House U.S. and Penguin Random House U.K. children’s divisions of Penguin Random House jointly announce the publication of THE LITTLE ELEPHANT WHO WANTS …
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Conference’s New Award Recognizes Founding Director of Children’s Literature Studies at Hollins
Roanoke, Va. – Hollins University’s Francelia Butler Conference (FBC), a one-day, student-run conference dedicated to celebrating children’s literature, is presenting a new prize this year in honor of the founding …
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Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Unveils First-Ever Curriculum-Based Virtual Reality Field Trips for Google Expeditions
BOSTON, MA – Global learning company Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) today launched the first HMH Field Trips for Google Expeditions for students grades K-12. Announced at the International Society for Technology …
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Diversity in the News: June 2016
The newsletter is a valuable resource for librarians, teachers, booksellers, parents and caregivers, publishing professionals, and children’s literature lovers. Find thought-provoking articles, diverse new releases, and more in this month’s issue and sign …