Students at Bethlehem Elementary School in Connecticut have adopted National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Gene Luen Yang’s Reading Without Walls Challenge — encouraging readers of all ages to pick up a book that is unlike their usual reading.
Bethlehem students have made a pledge “to remove the walls that prevent you from becoming a well-read person,” sharing photos and testimonies about their experience.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY – January 20, 2017 – Every Child a Reader has revealed the official Children’s Book Week poster commemorating the 98th annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading, to be held May 1-7, 2017. This year’s poster is designed by Christian Robinson, the illustrator of such acclaimed picture books as Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio and Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, for which he received a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor and a Caldecott Honor.
Robinson joins the ranks of children’s literature icons such as Ezra Jack Keats, Jerry Pinkney, Brian Selznick, Maurice Sendak, Rosemary Wells, and Garth Williams as the designer of the Children’s Book Week poster — a tradition dating back to the program’s creation in 1919. The 2017 poster features this year’s Children’s Book Week slogan, “One World, Many Stories,” highlighting the power of books to unite readers of all backgrounds. The poster was revealed by USA Today for the fifth consecutive year and will be distributed nationwide to attendees at official Book Week events in May.
Judith Haut, Senior Vice President, Associate Publisher of Random House Children’s Books and Chair of the Every Child a Reader Board, says of the poster, “We’re honored to feature Christian Robinson’s vibrant artwork among these historic tributes to the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country.”
Registration to be an official event location for Children’s Book Week is now open online, as Every Child a Reader seeks 500 schools, libraries, and bookstores across all 50 states to host dedicated story times, activity hours, book award voting time, or author/illustrator events. In addition to receiving the Children’s Book Week poster and access to downloadable materials, which range from bookmarks with art by four prominent illustrators to an original Every Child a Reader graphic novel, all participants will be included in a national publicity campaign and book donation. The deadline for event sign-up is March 1, 2017.
About Christian Robinson
Christian Robinson is “one of the most exciting children’s book artists working today,” according to the New York Times. He received a Caldecott Honor for Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, which was also a Newbery Medal winner and a New York Times Bestseller. He also illustrated Rain! by Linda Ashman, winner of the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award, and Josephine by Patricia Hruby Powell, recipient of a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. He lives in San Francisco. Learn more at TheArtOfFun.com.
About Children’s Book Week
Launched in 1919, Children’s Book Week will commemorate its 98th anniversary May 1-7, 2017. It is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country.
About Every Child a Reader
Every Child a Reader is a 501(c)(3) literacy charity dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children and teens across America. Every Child a Reader’s popular national programs include Children’s Book Week (May 1-7, 2017); the Children’s Choice Book Awards, the only book awards chosen by children and teens; and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature program, in partnership with the Library of Congress. Individual and corporate donations, grants, and Children’s Book Council support Every Child a Reader.
About the Children’s Book Council (CBC)
The Children’s Book Council is the nonprofit trade association for children’s book publishers in North America. The CBC offers children’s publishers the opportunity to work together on issues of importance to the industry at large, including educational programming, literacy advocacy, and partnerships with other national organizations. Our members span the spectrum from large international houses to smaller independent presses.
Media Contact:
Audra Boltion, The Boltion Group PR
646-331-9904
audra@thebgpr.com
CBC/Every Child a Reader Contact:
Emma Kantor, Publicity and Digital Content Manager
212-966-1990
emma.kantor@cbcbooks.org
Both students and faculty at the Solebury School in Pennsylvania have adopted National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Gene Luen Yang’s Reading Without Walls Challenge — encouraging readers of all ages to pick up a book that is unlike their usual reading.
Leading the way, Solebury’s head of school has pledged to read a book that students feel will expand his reading horizons. Here he is reading their selection: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling.
The school-wide challenge will culminate with a party and book discussion in early January 2017.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Boston, MA – December 14, 2016 — Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, sponsor of Screen-Free Week, announces its partnership with Every Child a Reader, sponsor of Children’s Book Week. Both weeklong events, to be celebrated May 1 – 7, 2017, encourage a week of unplugged fun and reading. Families, schools, libraries, bookstores, faith groups, and communities will pledge to turn off screen-based entertainment for one week by reading books together and plugging into life.
Research shows that children who spend less time with screens do better in school, sleep longer, eat better, get more exercise, and spend more time with their families. Leading health, education, and advocacy organizations around the country actively support Screen-Free Week. Endorsers include: American Public Health Association, National Black Child Development Institute, the National WIC Association, the Alliance for Early Childhood and Kaboom! The partnership with Children’s Book Week takes going “Screen Free” to the next level, recognizing the power of the written word in healthy child development.
“Reading is one of the very best ways to unplug during Screen Free Week and throughout the year,” says Jean Rogers, Screen Time Program Manager at Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood. “We are delighted to partner with Every Child a Reader to introduce our combined celebrations. We know that reading together increases family bonds, encourages language development and prepares children for success in school and life.”
Shaina Birkhead, Programming and Strategic Partnerships Director of the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader, added that “this is the perfect match of goals: for children and families to read more and to organize events to be together with a book. We and the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood will be providing event kits and downloadable activities for the week at our websites in the new year.”
Schools and families are encouraged to schedule both Screen Free Week and Children’s Book Week now to ensure that teachers can plan and families can count on great reading, art, exercise, and outdoor activities the week of May 1 – 7, 2017.
About Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
CCFC’s mission is to support parents’ efforts to raise healthy families by limiting commercial access to children and ending the exploitive practice of child-targeted marketing.
About Every Child a Reader
Every Child a Reader is a 501(c)(3) literacy charity dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children and teens across America. Every Child a Reader’s popular national programs include Children’s Book Week, the longest-running literacy initiative in the country; the Children’s Choice Book Awards, the only book awards chosen by children and teens; and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature program, in partnership with the Library of Congress.
About Children’s Book Week
Launched in 1919, Children’s Book Week will commemorate its 98th anniversary in May 2017. It is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country.
Contacts:
Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood
Jean Rogers, Screen Time Program Manager
jean@commercialfreechildhood.org
Every Child a Reader
Emma Kantor, Publicity and Digital Content Manager
emma.kantor@cbcbooks.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY – December 9, 2016 – Penguin Young Readers, the Children’s Book Council, and Every Child a Reader have partnered to launch a picture book prize in honor of the late Anna Dewdney (1965-2016), author and illustrator of the beloved Llama Llama series. The Anna Dewdney Read Together Award will be given annually to a picture book that is both a superb read aloud and also sparks compassion, empathy, and connection. The award commemorates the life and work of author/illustrator Anna Dewdney and celebrates her commitment to reading with young children and putting books into as many little hands as possible.
As a children’s book creator, a literacy advocate, and a parent, Dewdney believed, “A good children’s book can be read by an adult to a child, and experienced genuinely by both. A good children’s book is like a performance. Reading with children makes an intimate, human connection that teaches that child what it means to be alive as one of many beings on the planet. When we read a book with children, then children — no matter how stressed, no matter how challenged — are drawn out of themselves to bond with other human beings, and to see and feel the experiences of others. It is this moment that makes us human. In this sense, reading makes us human.” (Wall Street Journal)
Llama Llama Red Pajama, Dewdney’s tale of a baby llama calling out for Mama Llama at bedtime, is a beloved read-together book. The Anna Dewdney Read Together Award, co-sponsored by Penguin Young Readers, the Children’s Book Council, and Every Child a Reader, will recognize a picture book published within the last five years (2011-2016) in the United States that kids and grown-ups are currently discovering and enjoying together. The winning book will be announced during Children’s Book Week, May 1-7, 2017 — the celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading.
Berol Dewdney, a member of the Anna Dewdney Read Together Award committee and Anna’s daughter, said, “I became an early childhood educator because I wanted to give others what my Mama Llama gave me; she empowered me with the same love and lessons of empathy we see in her books. Her influence led to my professional passion in nourishing the hearts and minds of little people in my own way. As a Pre-K teacher in Baltimore I deeply value the power of children’s literacy and look forward to celebrating it through this award.”
All librarians, teachers, booksellers, parents/caregivers, and children’s book bloggers are encouraged to nominate up to five beloved read-together picture book favorites. Nominators must be 18 years of age or older. The deadline to submit a title for consideration is February 5, 2017. The five finalists will be the five books that received the most nominations and will be announced in February. The winning book will be announced during Children’s Book Week, May 1-7, 2017. The author and illustrator of the winning book will share a prize of $1,000 from the Children’s Book Council, and Penguin will purchase and donate $5,000 in copies of the winning book to a school, library, or literacy organization chosen by the award winner(s).
To submit a nomination, please complete this nomination form and be sure to include the following:
About Anna Dewdney
Anna Dewdney was the New York Times bestselling author and illustrator of Llama Llama Red Pajama. Other award-winning books in the series include Llama Lama and the Bully Goat, Llama Lama Time to Share, Llama Llama Misses Mama, Llama Llama Holiday Drama, and Llama Llama Mad at Mama. She was also the author/illustrator of Nobunny’s Perfect, Roly Poly Pangolin, and Grumpy Gloria. Anna worked as a rural mail carrier and taught at a boys’ boarding school for many years before becoming a full-time author and illustrator. Anna was a committed advocate of literacy, speaking regularly on this topic and publishing articles in the Wall Street Journal and other national outlets.
About Penguin Young Readers
Penguin Young Readers Group is one of the leading children’s book publishers in the United States. The company owns a wide range of imprints and trademarks including Dial Books, Dutton, Grosset & Dunlap, Kathy Dawson Books, Nancy Paulsen Books, Penguin Workshop, Philomel, Puffin, G. P. Putnam’s Sons, Viking, Razorbill, Speak, and Frederick Warne. These imprints are home to such award-winning, New York Times- bestselling authors as, Laurie Halse Anderson, Jay Asher, Judy Blume, Jan Brett, Eric Carle, Ally Condie, Roald Dahl, Tomie dePaola, Sarah Dessen, Anna Dewdney, John Flanagan, John Green, Oliver Jeffers, Marie Lu, Mike Lupica, Richelle Mead, Richard Peck, Ruta Sepetys, Jacqueline Woodson and dozens of other popular authors. Penguin Young Readers Group is also the proud publisher of perennial brand franchises such as the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, Peter Rabbit, Spot, the Classic Winnie the Pooh, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Madeline, Mad Libs, the Rangers Apprentice, Skippyjon Jones, Who Was?, and Flower Fairies among many others. Penguin Young Readers Group is a division of Penguin Group LLC, a Penguin Random House company.
About Every Child a Reader
Every Child a Reader is a 501(c)(3) literacy charity dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children and teens across America. Every Child a Reader’s popular national programs include Children’s Book Week (May 1-7, 2017), the longest-running literacy initiative in the country; the Children’s Choice Book Awards, the only book awards chosen by children and teens; and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature program, in partnership with the Library of Congress. Individual and corporate donations, grants, and Children’s Book Council support Every Child a Reader.
About the Children’s Book Council (CBC)
The Children’s Book Council is the nonprofit trade association for children’s book publishers in North America. The CBC offers children’s publishers the opportunity to work together on issues of importance to the industry at large, including educational programming, literacy advocacy, and partnerships with other national organizations. Our members span the spectrum from large international houses to smaller independent presses.
About Children’s Book Week
Launched in 1919, Children’s Book Week will commemorate its 98th anniversary in May 2017. It is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country.
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Penguin Contact:
Marisa Russell, Associate Director of Publicity
212-414-3467
mrussell@penguinrandomhouse.com
CBC/Every Child a Reader Contact:
Emma Kantor, Publicity and Digital Content Manager
212-966-1990
emma.kantor@cbcbooks.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Major new plans for the longest-running national reading initiative in the U.S.
New York, NY – December 7, 2016 – Every Child a Reader, a nonprofit literacy organization dedicated to inspiring reading by kids and teens, announced today that its anchor program, Children’s Book Week, will open a dramatic new chapter in 2017 — its 98th year — with an increased number of events from May 1-7, reformatted book awards, new websites, original materials and artwork, and more.
As Shaina Birkhead, Programming and Strategic Partnerships Director for Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader, stated: “Children’s Book Week is one of the cornerstones of Every Child a Reader’s literacy work, and we are pulling out all the stops for the biggest and best Children’s Book Week yet. Our goal is to more than triple the number of library, school, and bookstore Book Week event participants nationwide.”
Registration to be an official Children’s Book Week library, bookstore, or school in 2017 will begin online in January after an extensive trade media push, complemented by publisher outreach, social media and email notifications, as well as promotion at ALA Midwinter and ABA Winter Institute. The streamlined application process will ask schools, libraries, and bookstores to choose whether to hold a Book Week story time, activity hour, or author event — or a combination of celebrations. All locations will receive a quantity of the official 2017 Book Week poster illustrated by Christian Robinson.
Event locations will also be asked to host voting for the Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards, as, for the first time next year, voting will extend through the final day of Book Week, May 7. In 2017, the award winners will be announced in conjunction with the ABC Children’s Group/ABFE art auction on May 31 at BookExpo.
An all-new website ready by February 1 will feature downloadable event and voting kits, press release templates, and exclusive new bookmarks by four prominent children’s book illustrators. Also in the works are two Every Child a Reader original booklets — a Spanish-English first words coloring book and a graphic novel based on Book Week’s 2017 theme: One World, Many Stories.
Carl Lennertz, CBC and Every Child a Reader Executive Director, added: “We’re going to energize the entire children’s book world this spring, thanks to the enthusiastic support of teachers, parents, librarians, booksellers, authors, illustrators, CBC committees, publishing employees, the media, other literacy groups — and kids and teens! — for this wonderful annual tradition known as Children’s Book Week.”
About Every Child a Reader
Every Child a Reader is a 501(c)(3) literacy charity dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children and teens across America. Every Child a Reader’s popular national programs include Children’s Book Week (May 1-7, 2017), the longest-running literacy initiative in the country; the Children’s Choice Book Awards, the only book awards chosen by children and teens; and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature program, in partnership with the Library of Congress. Individual and corporate donations, grants, and Children’s Book Council support Every Child a Reader.
About Children’s Book Week
Launched in 1919, Children’s Book Week will celebrate its 98th anniversary in May 2017.
About the Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards
Launched in 2008, the Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards are the only national book awards voted on only by kids and teens. In 2017, voting will be open from February 28 to May 7.
About the Children’s Book Council (CBC)
Every Child a Reader works in partnership with the Children’s Book Council, the nonprofit trade association for children’s book publishers in North America. The CBC offers children’s publishers, from smaller independent presses to large international houses, the opportunity to work together on issues of importance to the industry at large, including educational programming, diversity in employment and books, literacy advocacy, and partnerships with other national organizations.
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Media Contact:
Emma Kantor, Publicity and Digital Content Manager
Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader
212/966-1990 emma.kantor@cbcbooks.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY – Thursday, November 17, 2016 – The ABC Children’s Group at the American Booksellers Association (ABA) and the Children’s Book Council (CBC) are partnering to bring back the popular Silent Art Auction and the Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards Announcement in a joint program to take place on May 31, 2017, from 5:15 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Javits Center South Concourse in New York City, as part of BookExpo. The event will benefit American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) and Every Child a Reader.
National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Gene Luen Yang will serve as honorary chair of the event, announcing the winners of the Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards—the only national book awards program where the winning titles are selected by young readers.
Solicitation for artwork will begin early January 2017. For more information, please contact Susannah Richards, Professor and Children’s Literature Advocate (susannah.richards@me.com).
The program will also celebrate the 75th anniversary of Random House’s Little Golden Books. Launched in 1942, the Little Golden Books imprint is synonymous with affordable, high-quality picture books. This year’s Silent Art Auction will feature a special selection of works in celebration of the Little Golden Books legacy as part of a year-long marketing and publicity extravaganza kicking off in February 2017.
Says Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, Senior Program Director of ABA, “Now, more than ever, events supporting free speech and literacy are vital. ABA is pleased to be part of bringing back both beloved events to BookExpo, where the entire industry gathers.”
Shaina Birkhead, Programming and Strategic Partnerships Director of the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader, is delighted “to be working closely with our friends at ABA, ABC, and ABFE on such interconnected and essential causes: free speech, great art, and children’s literacy.”
About the ABC Children’s Group
The ABC Children’s Group (ABC), a program of the American Booksellers Association (ABA), is dedicated to growing and expanding the reach of children’s books. ABC serves independent bookstores, authors, publishers, and illustrators, and develops unique education, events, and communications to further that purpose. ABA is a not-for-profit trade association devoted to meeting the needs of its core members—independently owned bookstores with storefront locations. It exists to protect and promote the interests of independent retail book businesses, as well as – through American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) – to protect the First Amendment rights of every American.
About the Children’s Book Council (CBC)
The Children’s Book Council is the nonprofit trade association for children’s book publishers in North America. The CBC offers children’s publishers the opportunity to work together on issues of importance to the industry at large, including educational programming, literacy advocacy, and partnerships with other national organizations. Our members span the spectrum from large international houses to smaller independent presses.
About Every Child a Reader
Every Child a Reader is a 501(c)(3) literacy charity dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children and teens across America. Every Child a Reader’s popular national programs include Children’s Book Week (May 1-7, 2017), the longest-running literacy initiative in the country; the Children’s Choice Book Awards, the only book awards chosen by children and teens; and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature program, in partnership with the Library of Congress.
About the Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards
Launched in 2008 by the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader, the Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards is the only national book awards voting open only to kids and teens. In 2017, voting will be open from March 1 to May 7.
About Little Golden Books
The year 1942 was marked by a bold experiment that, even in the thick of World War II, would galvanize consumer culture: the launch of the twenty-five-cent Little Golden Books. High-quality illustrated books for children would be available at a price that nearly everyone could afford, and sold where people shopped every day. The Little Golden Books imprint includes the most famous and the bestselling picture book of all time, The Poky Little Puppy. Beloved classics such as The Shy Little Kitten, The Saggy Baggy Elephant, Tawny Scrawny Lion, Tootle, Scuffy The Tugboat, The Little Red Hen, The Little Red Caboose, are now joined by well-known characters and brands such as Disney, Nickelodeon, Star Wars and more. More at www.randomhousekids.com/brand/little-golden-books/.
In honor of the imprint’s 75th anniversary, Random House will reissue a selection of titles back in print from the 1950s including Pets for Peter, Cars and Trucks by Richard Scarry and The Paper Doll Wedding Book; as well as a never-before-seen Margaret Wise Brown story and a new edition of The Golden Legacy by Leonard Marcus.
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ABA Contact:
Joy Dallanegra-Sanger, Senior Program Officer
914-406-7518
joy@bookweb.org
CBC/Every Child a Reader Contact:
Emma Kantor, Publicity and Digital Content Manager
212-966-1990
emma.kantor@cbcbooks.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, NY – Monday, November 7, 2016 – Minnesota-based author and literacy volunteer Claudette Hegel has donated her complete collection of the John Newbery and Randolph Caldecott Award winners to the Children’s Book Council. Hegel’s Newbery and Caldecott collection consists of every Medal and Honor book since 1922 and 1938, respectively, totaling 736 titles.
The books’ eastward journey began earlier this summer when CBC Board member Tracy van Straaten discovered Hegel’s advertisement on the Child_Lit listserv. Interim Executive Director Josalyn Moran traveled to Hegel’s home in Bloomington, Minnesota where she and Claudette carefully packed the 700 plus books to be shipped to the Children’s Book Council headquarters in New York City. The books are now proudly displayed on new bookshelves in the CBC conference room, along with full information on every year’s selection committee members; the library will serve as a resource to CBC members, librarians, teachers, booksellers, as well as to all visiting authors.
In addition to being an avid collector of children’s books and ephemera, Hegel volunteers with several local organizations including Books on Wings, which puts books into the hands of underserved kids in schools. She spent more than 20 years volunteering for the Minneapolis and Hennepin County Public Libraries and is a former Minnesota regional advisor for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She is the author of three books on the Newbery and Caldecott Awards and the winners, biographies of the award namesakes, and other books.
Prior to this donation, Hegel contributed a significant collection of Caldecott and Newbery ephemera to the Children’s Literature Research Center/Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota. Says Hegel of her CBC donation: “Yes, I miss having the books handy. I suddenly discovered I used the books more than I thought, even if only for fun, not for research. That being said, I don’t miss the books as much as I thought I would (so far, anyway). Knowing the books will actually be used to help many people instead of making me feel like a miser hoarding gold takes the sting out of the books being a half-a-country away.”
Chair of the Children’s Book Council Board Jon Anderson says of the donation: “As a book lover and a Midwesterner, I am thrilled by this generous act. We’re delighted to receive these marvelous books from Claudette Hegel. We intend this to be a living collection, with a call going out to every author who can to come by and sign their book(s), view the collection, and have a photograph taken.”
About the Children’s Book Council (CBC)
The Children’s Book Council is the nonprofit trade association for children’s book publishers in North America. The CBC offers children’s publishers the opportunity to work together on issues of importance to the industry at large, including educational programming, literacy advocacy, and collaborations with other national organizations. Our members span the spectrum from large international houses to smaller independent presses. The CBC is proud to partner with other national organizations on co-sponsored reading lists, educational programming, and literacy initiatives. Please visit www.cbcbooks.org for more information.
About Every Child a Reader
Every Child a Reader is a 501(c)(3) literacy organization dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children and teens across America. Every Child a Reader’s popular and effective programs include Children’s Book Week, a nationwide celebration of books and reading, and the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country; the Children’s Choice Book Awards, the only national book awards program where the winning titles are selected by kids and teens of all ages; and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature program, the country’s “Children’s Literature Laureate.” Please visit www.cbcbooks.org/about/every-child-a-reader/.
About the Newbery Medal
The Newbery Medal was named for eighteenth-century British bookseller John Newbery. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. To learn more about the awards and for a complete list of winners, visit the ALA website.
About the Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal was named in honor of nineteenth-century English illustrator Randolph Caldecott. It is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. To learn more about the awards and for a complete list of winners, visit the ALA website.
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Media Contact:
Emma Kantor, Publicity and Digital Content Manager
The Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader
212/966-1990
emma.kantor@cbcbooks.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Beginning this fall, in preparation for the full roll-out of the Reading Without Walls Challenge for summer 2017, Every Child a Reader is testing the campaign at 25 schools and libraries from California to Maine who all requested an official event with the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Gene Luen Yang. Materials include a small poster and a student certificate, now also being made widely available to any schools, libraries, and bookstores interested in participating in this pilot program of the READING WITHOUT WALLS Challenge.
The READING WITHOUT WALLS Challenge encourages students to discover books outside their comfort zone. Readers of all ages can take up the challenge in one of three ways: by reading a book about a diverse character; by reading a book about an unfamiliar topic; or by trying a book in a new format. Bestselling graphic novelist Gene Luen Yang created the official READING WITHOUT WALLS Challenge as the fifth National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, in keeping with his mission to promote diverse and inclusive stories.
The poster created by Yang shows two children sitting on steps of books and peering excitedly over a wall toward a vista of new opportunities and perspectives. The poster and certificate will be distributed to independent booksellers through the Indie Bound October Red Box. Librarians and educators may request copies from Every Child a Reader at no cost by writing to: Reading Without Walls Poster, Children’s Book Council, 54 W. 39th, 14th floor, NY, NY 10018. Please include a self-addressed mailing label. All materials are also downloadable at www.cbcbooks.org/reading-without-walls/. (The printed poster will be on durable paper stock.)
“The pilot program is designed to gather feedback about additional resources and materials needed to optimize the program and accompany a large poster for the national summer 2017 full roll-out. The pilot is also another step in building excitement about the power of reading diversely. We are so grateful to Gene for this great idea filled with his passion, his art, and his heart,” says Shaina Birkhead, Director of Programming at the Children’s Books Council and Every Child a Reader.
About Gene Luen Yang
Gene Luen Yang began drawing comic books in the fifth grade; he began making comics professionally over fifteen years ago. In 2006, his graphic novel American Born Chinese (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/First Second Books) became the first graphic novel to be a finalist for a National Book Award and the first to win the American Library Association’s Printz Award. It also won an Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album. In 2013, Boxers & Saints (Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group/First Second Books), his two-volume graphic novel about the Boxer Rebellion, was a National Book Award finalist and won the L.A. Times Book Prize. Gene has also won an Eisner for The Eternal Smile, a collaboration with Derek Kirk Kim. He is the author of the Secret Coders series (with artist Mike Holmes) and has written for the hit comics Avatar: The Last Airbender and Superman. Yang lives in the San Francisco Bay area. Learn more at geneyang.com.
About the National Ambassador Program
The National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Program was established in 2008 by the Children’s Book Council, Every Child a Reader, and the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. The program is administered by Every Child a Reader. Over the last eight years, the National Ambassador Program has reached millions of young readers and their caregivers in the United States. Visit www.ChildrensBookAmbassador.com for more information.
About Every Child a Reader
Every Child a Reader is a 501(c)3 charitable literacy organization dedicated to inspiring a lifelong love of reading in children and teens. Sponsored and staffed by the Children’s Book Council, Every Child a Reader creates and supports programs that strive to make the reading and enjoyment of children’s books an essential part of America’s educational and social aims. The cornerstone programs are as follows: Children’s Book Week, a nationwide celebration of reading and the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country; the Children’s Choice Book Awards, the only national book awards program where the winning titles are selected by kids and teens of all ages; and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Program, the country’s “Children’s Literature Laureate.”
About the Children’s Book Council
The Children’s Book Council is the nonprofit trade association for children’s book publishers in North America, and is the sponsor for Every Child a Reader programs. The CBC offers children’s publishers the opportunity to work together on issues of importance to the industry at large, including diversity, career development, literacy advocacy, and partnerships with other national organizations. Our members span the spectrum from large international houses to smaller independent presses. The CBC is proud to collaborate with other book-related associations on co-sponsored reading lists, educational programming, and literacy initiatives. Please visit www.cbcbooks.org for more information.
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Media Contact:
Emma Kantor, Communications Coordinator
The Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader
212/966-1990
emma.kantor[@]cbcbooks.org
New York, NY — August 11, 2016 — Acclaimed illustrator Christian Robinson has agreed to design the 2017 Children’s Book Week poster distributed by Every Child a Reader and the Children’s Book Council in commemoration of the 98th annual Children’s Book Week, to take place on May 1-7, 2017. Robinson is the artist behind such beloved picture books as Gaston by Kelly DiPucchio and Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, for which he received a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor and a Caldecott Honor.
Reviving a Children’s Book Week tradition, the poster will feature the new official Children’s Book Week slogan, “One World, Many Stories,” highlighting the power of books to unite readers of all backgrounds. Each year since the program’s inception in 1919, a distinguished children’s book illustrator has been asked to create an official Children’s Book Week poster for national distribution. Over the literacy initiative’s 98 storied years, posters have been designed by children’s literature icons including Ezra Jack Keats, Jerry Pinkney, Brian Selznick, Ellen Raskin, Maurice Sendak, Rosemary Wells, and Garth Williams. Every Child a Reader and the Children’s Book Council are honored to add Christian Robinson’s beautiful artwork to these historic commemorations of the longest-running national literacy initiative.
Robinson says of the Children’s Book Week commission: “Illustrating picture books for a living is already quite a prize. Being invited to design the 2017 Book Week poster might just take the cake! Many artists who inspire me — including Bruno Munari, Paul Rand, and Roger Duvoisin — have designed it in the past, so it’s a huge honor.”
Chair of the Every Child a Reader Board Judith Haut says of the 2017 poster: “I am delighted that Christian Robinson will be lending his dynamic illustration to the 2017 Children’s Book Week poster. His commitment to representing our diverse world in all its beauty epitomizes the theme of ‘One World, Many Stories.’ We can’t wait to share his inspiring poster with readers from coast to coast.”
Posters from Book Weeks past are available for purchase at the official Children’s Book Week Store. All proceeds benefit Every Child a Reader, a 501(c)(3) literacy organization dedicated to instilling a lifelong love of reading in children. Stay tuned for the official poster reveal leading up to Children’s Book Week 2017.
About Christian Robinson
Christian Robinson is “one of the most exciting children’s book artists working today,” according to the New York Times. He received a Caldecott Honor for Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, which was also a Newbery Medal winner and a New York Times Bestseller. He also illustrated Rain! by Linda Ashman, winner of the Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Award, and Josephine by Patricia Hruby Powell, recipient of a Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor and a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor. Readers will be delighted to see his illustrations in Little Penguins by Cynthia Rylant, which will be published in October. He lives in San Francisco. Learn more at TheArtOfFun.com.
About Children’s Book Week
Established in 1919, CBW is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Each year, official events give kids the opportunity to connect with their favorite authors and illustrators in person. In 2016, official events were held in all 50 states. To learn more about Children’s Book Week and how you can join the fun, visit bookweekonline.com.
About Every Child a Reader
Every Child a Reader is a 501(c)(3) literacy organization dedicated to instilling a lifelong love of reading in children. Every Child a Reader creates and supports programs that strive to make the reading and enjoyment of children’s books an essential part of America’s educational and social aims; and enhance public perception of the importance of reading. Every Child a Reader’s programs include Children’s Book Week, a nationwide celebration of books and reading, and the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country; the Children’s Choice Book Awards, the only national book awards program where the winning titles are selected by kids and teens of all ages; and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Program, the country’s “Children’s Literature Laureate.” Please visit www.cbcbooks.org/about/every-child-a-reader/ for more information.
About the Children’s Book Council
The Children’s Book Council is the national nonprofit trade association for children’s book publishers. The CBC offers children’s publishers the opportunity to work together on issues of importance to the industry at large, including educational programming, literacy advocacy, and collaborations with other national organizations. Our members span the spectrum from large international houses to smaller independent presses. Membership in the CBC is open to U.S. publishers of children’s trade books, as well as in some cases to industry-affiliated companies. The CBC is proud to partner with other national organizations on co-sponsored reading lists, educational programming, and literacy initiatives. Please visit www.cbcbooks.org for more information.
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Contact:
Emma Kantor
Communications Coordinator
The Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader
212-966-1990
emma.kantor[@]cbcbooks.org
