JAMES RIVER WRITERS CONFERENCE RETURNING FOR 12^TH YEAR WITH IMPRESSIVE LINEUP OF SPEAKERS, WORKSHOPS

Registration is open for one of Virginia’s most popular events for writers

RICHMOND, Va. – What do New York Times bestselling authors, literary agents and award-winning illustrators have in common? They’re all going to be networking and sharing a wealth of knowledge at the 12^th annual James River Writers Conference.

The James River Writers Conference returns to Richmond from Oct. 17-19 with new, hands-on workshops, master classes and one-on-one meetings with some of the top agents and publishers. Book Doctors Arielle Eckstut and David Henry Sterry will mark the triumphant return of Pitchapalooza – aka “American Idol” for books – where volunteers will be randomly selected to pitch their work. The Pitchapalooza winner will receive an introduction to an editor or agent appropriate for his or her work.

Sterry says of The James River Writers Conference, “There’s just a cool vibe here. This is a hidden treasure, as far as I’m concerned, right here in Richmond.”

This year’s conference features more than two dozen experienced guest speakers:

Authors and Illustrators

Kwame Alexander, “The Crossover”

Cece Bell, “Rabbit & Robot: The Sleepover”

Iris Bolling, “The Heart”

Susann Cokal, “The Kingdom of Little Wounds,” Printz honor recipient

Tarfia Faizullah, “Seam”

Lamar Giles, “Fake ID”

Hugh Howey, Wool series

Brian Jay Jones, “Jim Henson: The Biography”

Kristen Lippert-Martin, “Tabula Rasa”

Sarah MacLean, “Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake”

Kelly O’Connor McNees, “The Island of Doves”

Meg Medina, “Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass,” Pura Belpre award winner

Sheri Reynolds, “The Homespun Wisdom of Myrtle T. Cribb”

Jon Sealy, “The Whiskey Baron”

Ron Smith, “Running Again in Hollywood Cemetery”

David Henry Sterry, “Chicken: Self-Portrait of a Young Man for Rent”

Agents, Publishers & Other Experts

Kaylee Davis, Dee Mura Literary associate agent

Arielle Eckstut, Levine Greenberg agent

Levine Greenberg, agent and author

Jane Friedman, editor, publisher and professor

Katie Grimm, Don Congdon Associates literary agent

Peter Knapp, Park Literary Group rep

Kimiko Nakamura, Dee Mura Literary rep

Jody Rein, head of Jody Rein Books Inc. and Author Planet

Geoff Shandler, Little, Brown & Co. editor

Alison Weiss, Egmont USA editor

Stacy Whitman, Tu Books founder and publisher

Registration for the annual conference is open, and writing sessions are already filling up. Find more details and a full list of programs at JamesRiverWriters.org.

CALL FOR PROPOSALS

While most people are familiar with attempts to censor children’s and young adult literature, the problem of censorship continues to provoke many who believe that children and adolescents benefit from considering diverse viewpoints and cultural experiences. In recent years, many examples of children’s and young adult literature—including The Perks of Being a Wallflower, And Tango Makes Three, and The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian—have been challenged in schools and libraries. This conference seeks to explore the ways in which censorship affects young readers whose parents, teachers, and civic leaders attempt to navigate thorny terrains of identity in a world in which information circulates more freely than ever before.

This conference will be hosted by the Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature, one of North America’s leading resources for the study of children’s and young adult literature. The growing collection of 60,000 books, periodicals, manuscripts, original art, and papers of authors and illustrators has an international and multicultural emphasis. The Center also houses one of the largest collections of LGBT+ literature for children and young adults in the United States.

Scholars, librarians, teachers, writers, and illustrators are invited to submit proposals for formal presentations, roundtable discussions, and workshops. Presentations may highlight creative work, community engagement, pedagogy, or scholarship. Sessions will last 75 minutes (15–20 min. per presenter).Proposals for individual presentations should be 250-300 words, while proposals for entire sessions should be no more than 500 words. Please include two- to three-sentence biographies for each participant and indicate any audio-visual/media needs.

Possible topics for proposals include, but are not limited to:
· Suppressed or silenced histories
· International contexts for censorship
· Technology and/or digital literacies
· Fan fiction as a response to banned young adult texts
· The use of social media to intervene when books are challenged
· History of censorship and banned book lists
· LGBT+ literature
· Bibliotherapy and censorship
· Recent attempts to ban books based on cultural empowerment movements
· Multiculturalism and diversity
· Sex and censorship
· Self-censorship
· Creating curriculum that supports the use of banned books
· “Artivism” and subtext in illustrations
· Graphic novels, novels in verse, and experimentation with form
· Libraries (school/community/archives) and closed reference cases
· Publishing or Pre-Censorship
· Schools (K-12, public/private)
· Religion, spirituality, and mysticism in banned books
· Authorial politics and the reception of young adult literature
· Recommended age ratings for books

Submission deadline for proposals (both individual and panel) is November 26, 2014. Submit electronically to [email protected], Dr. Kathleen Godfrey, English Department, Fresno State.

Media Alert

For Thursday, September 18^th 2014

Contact: Alexandra Pearson

212.255.8455/ [email protected]

Ninth Annual Carle Honors

Celebrating Early Literacy and the Art of the Picture Book

2014 gala to fête author/illustrator Jerry Pinkney and other luminaries in the field

On Thursday, September 18, hundreds of children’s book artists, authors and advocates will come together to celebrate The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art’s ninth annual Carle Honors at Guastavino’s in New York City. This benefit gala will honor five individuals who have been instrumental in making children’s books a vibrant art form that supports art appreciation and early literacy.

When:             Thursday, September 18, 2014

5:30 pm Reception with cocktails, dinner fare, and silent auction

7:15 pm Presentation of The Carle Honors

8:00 pm Dessert, coffee, and auction

9:00 pm Auction close

Where:            Guastavino’s

                        409 East 59^th Street

                        New York, NY 10022

Who:               Hosted by Eric and Barbara Carle, Museum co-founders

Presented by Tony and Angela DiTerlizzi

                        Charles and Deborah Royce, 2014 co-chairs

2014 Carle Honors honorees include:

·         Artist: Jerry Pinkney – Illustrator of more than 100 books for children and winner of numerous awards, including the 2010 Caldecott Medal for The Lion and the Mouse

·         Angel: Reach Out and Read – Promoters of early literacy and school readiness through programs in pediatric exam rooms nationwide; represented by Brian Gallagher and Dr. Perri Klass

·         Mentor: Henrietta M. Smith – Influential children’s librarian, scholar, and author; advocate for  quality and diversity in children’s literature

·         Bridge: Françoise Mouly – Publisher and editorial director for TOON Books, high-quality comics for young children; art editor of The New Yorker 

Why:               The Carle Honors awards recognize individuals in four distinct forms: Artist, for lifelong innovation in the field; Mentor, for the editors, designers, and educators who champion the art form; Angel, for those whose generous resources make picture book art exhibitions and education programs a reality; and Bridge, for individuals who have found inspired ways to bring the art of the picture book to larger audiences through work in other fields.

For just over a decade, The Eric Carle Museum has been collecting, preserving, presenting and celebrating picture books and their illustrations with the mission to foster a love of art and reading in all ages. The only full-scale museum of its kind in the United States, The Carle was the recipient of the 2013 Commonwealth Award for Creative Learning for its exceptional demonstration of the importance of creativity and innovation to student achievement and success. In addition, The Carle has received two grants from the National Endowment for the Arts which help bring nationally acclaimed artists to local schools that normally do not have access to picture books. The Carle Honors is a key fundraiser providing critical support for the Museum’s mission and programs.

Reservations: Individual Tickets: Patron Tickets are $600 per person, and include cocktails, dinner fare, presentation, dessert. Specially priced tickets for educators are available at $100 (includes only presentation and dessert).

Sponsor Tickets: New Individual Sponsor tickets are available for $750; sponsorship packages start at $5,000. New sponsor levels include a personal tour of The Carle’s exhibition, Madeline in New York: The Art of Ludwig Bemelmans, at the New-York Historical Society.

For more details or to purchase a sponsorship/ticket to the event, please call (413)-658-1118 or visit www.carlemuseum.org/carlehonors2014

For media credentials, additional press information and/or images, please contact Alexandra Pearson at [email protected] or 646-695-7048.

About The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art:

The mission of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, a non-profit organization in Amherst, MA, is to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books. The only full-scale museum of its kind in the United States, The Carle collects, preserves, presents, and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world. In addition to underscoring the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of picture books and their art form, The Carle offers educational programs that provide a foundation for arts integration and literacy.

Eric and Barbara Carle founded the Museum in November 2002. Eric Carle is the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Since opening, the 40,000-foot facility has served more than half a million visitors, including over 30,000 schoolchildren. Its extensive resources include a collection of more than 12,000 picture book illustrations, three art galleries, an art studio, a theater, picture book and scholarly libraries, and educational programs for families, scholars, educators, and schoolchildren. Educational offerings include professional training for educators around the country. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m. with special extended summer hours. Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for children under 18, and $22.50 for a family of four. For further information and directions, call 413-658-1100 or visit the Museum’s website at www.carlemuseum.org.

From Harper Collins:

WALTER DEAN MYERS, PROLIFIC AND BELOVED AUTHOR

OF AWARD-WINNING CHILDREN’S BOOKS, DIES AT AGE 76

Myers Touched So Many With His Eloquent and Unflinching Portrayal of Young

African-American Lives

Walter Dean Myers, beloved and deeply respected children’s book author, died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.

In a career spanning over 45 years, Walter Dean Myers wrote more than 100 books for children of all ages. His impressive body of work includes two Newbery Honor Books, three National Book Award Finalists, and six Coretta Scott King Award/Honor-winning books. He was the winner of the first-ever Michael L. Printz Award, the first recipient of the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement, and a recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award for lifetime achievement in writing for young adults. In 2010, Walter was the United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award, and in 2012 he was appointed the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, serving a two-year tenure in the position. Also in 2012, Walter was recognized as an inaugural NYC Literary Honoree, an honor given by former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, for his substantial lifetime accomplishments and contribution to children’s literature.

“We are deeply saddened by the passing of erudite and beloved author Walter Dean Myers. Walter’s many award-winning books do not shy away from the sometimes gritty truth of growing up. He wrote books for the reader he once was, books he wanted to read when he was a teen. He wrote with heart and he spoke to teens in a language they understood. For these reasons, and more, his work will live on for a long, long time,” said Susan Katz, President and Publisher of HarperCollins Children’s Books.

Walter Dean Myers was born Walter Milton Myers on August 12, 1937, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. Walter’s birth mother, Mary Myers, died after the birth of his younger sister, Imogene. His father, George, sent Walter to live with his first wife, Florence Dean, and her husband, Herbert Dean, in Harlem, along with Florence and George’s two daughters. Walter would eventually adopt the middle name “Dean” to honor Florence and Herbert.

In Walter’s memoir, Bad Boy, he wrote, “Harlem is the first place called ‘home’ that I can remember.” This sentiment is reflected in Walter’s writing, whether via a love letter to the neighborhood in the picture book Harlem; a story of a boy’s trial for a crime committed in Harlem, in the novel Monster; or the tale of two friends struggling to see a future beyond the community they know in the novel Darius & Twig. Walter spent much of his childhood playing basketball on the courts of Harlem and checking books out of the George Bruce Branch of the New York Public Library. Florence Dean taught Walter to read in their kitchen, and when he began attending Public School 125, he could read at a second-grade level. Though Walter struggled through school with a speech impediment and poor grades, and he had trouble with discipline throughout his school career, he remained an avid reader. His love of reading soon progressed to a love of writing.

Walter wrote well in high school and one teacher, who recognized his talent but also knew he was going to drop out, told him to keep on writing, no matter what—“It’s what you do,” she said. Walter did drop out of Stuyvesant High School, though they now claim him as a graduate (which Walter always found funny). At the age of seventeen, he enlisted in the Army. Years later, after his safe return home and while working a construction job, Walter would remember this teacher’s advice. He started writing again…and he didn’t stop.

Walter’s body of work includes picture books, novels for teens, poetry, and non-fiction alike. In 1968, Walter’s first published book, Where Does the Day Go?, illustrated by Leo Carty, won an award from the Council on Interracial Books for Children. Walter and his son Christopher, an artist, collaborated on a number of picture books for young readers, including We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart and Harlem, which received a Caldecott Honor Award, as well as the teen novel and National Book Award Finalist Autobiography of My Dead Brother, which Christopher illustrated. Walter’s novel Scorpions won a Newbery Honor Medal and the Margaret A. Edwards Award, while gritty teen novels Lockdown and Monster were both National Book Award Finalists. Monster appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, won the first Michael L. Printz Award, and received a Coretta Scott King Honor Award. His stunning Coretta Scott King Award-winning novel, Fallen Angels (1988), about the Vietnam War, was named one of the top ten American Library Association Best Books for Young Adults of all time. Twenty years later, Myers wrote a riveting contemporary companion novel, Sunrise Over Fallujah, which was named a New York Times Notable Book in 2008.

In Invasion (2010), Myers once again explored the effects and horrors of war through young protagonists, this time set in World War II.  His upcoming books include Juba!, (HarperCollins, April 2015) a novel for teens based on the life of a young African American dancer, and On a Clear Day (Crown/Random House Books for Young Readers, September 2014). A graphic novel adaptation of Monster (HarperCollins) is also forthcoming.

Walter often wrote books about the most difficult time in his own life—his teenage years—for the reader he once was; these were the books that he wished were available when he was that age. Throughout his life, Walter worked to make sure young adults had the tools necessary to become hungry readers, thirsty learners, and, therefore, successful adults. He frequently met with incarcerated teens in juvenile detention centers and received countless letters thanking him for his inspirational words. Walter also worked with and mentored teenage fan and writer Ross Workman, and they published the novel Kick together. As the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature from 2012-2013, Walter traveled around the United States promoting the slogan “Reading is not optional.” He strove to spread the message that a brighter future depends on reading proficiency and widespread literacy, not only during his two-year tenure as National Ambassador, but beyond. More than anything, Walter pushed for his stories to teach children and teenagers never to give up on life.

“Walter Dean Myers was a compassionate, wonderful, and brilliant man.  He wrote about children who needed a voice and their stories told.  His work will live on for generations to come.  It was an honor to work with him for so many years,” said Miriam Altshuler, Walter’s literary agent.

Walter lived in Jersey City, New Jersey, with his wife Constance. He is survived by Constance, as well as his two sons, Christopher and Michael Dean. He was predeceased by his daughter, Karen.

For what it’s worth, this contest is for librarians as well as teachers.

To Honor Educators and to Highlight the August Movie Release of “The Giver,” Walden Media Announces its “Teachers are Givers” Contest

Educators Will Receive Cash Prizes for Themselves, Their Schools, and Libraries as well as a Special Hometown Screening of “The Giver”

Los Angeles, CA – June 11, 2014 – Walden Media, known for its film adaptations of literary classics like “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe,” “Holes,” “Bridge to Terabithia” and “Charlotte’s Web,” as well as for the education materials and contests it provides to educators, today formally announced its Teachers are Givers contest. The contest highlights the upcoming release of “The Giver,” a film based on Lois Lowry’s Newbery Medal winning book and international best seller that has become a staple in schools throughout the United States. Hitting theaters nationwide on August 15th, “The Giver” stars Jeff Bridges, Brenton Thwaites, Meryl Streep, Taylor Swift, Katie Holmes, Odeya Rush and Alexander Skarsgård.

To enter the Teachers are Givers contest, educators can visit www.walden.com and submit their ideas on how they use technology and/or social media to teach “The Giver.” Winners and their ideas will be highlighted on the Walden Media website in the Walden Media Teacher Hall of Fame. Each winner also will receive a personal cash prize of $1,000, a $1,000 donation to their school, and a $1,000 donation to their local library.

“We are so pleased to bring the literary classic “The Giver” to movie theaters this August,” noted Walden Media executive Chip Flaherty. “At its heart, “The Giver” celebrates the mentor relationship and the incredible impact an educator can have on a child’s life. This contest recognizes the significance of educators in our lives and attempts to reward the invaluable work they do.”

The inspiration for the Teachers are Givers contest came from an idea by Lori Johnson, a middle school teacher at Lexington Christian Academy in Lexington, Massachusetts. Ms. Johnson uses a “Six Word Challenge” to teach her students about the power of words. This lesson is based on the legend that Ernest Hemingway was challenged to write a story in six words and builds upon the theme of “precision of language” found in “The Giver.”

The Teachers are Givers contest is just one component of the education materials and initiatives being developed in conjunction with the film release of “The Giver.”  To learn more about these materials as well as other education program initiatives supporting “The Giver,” visit www.walden.com.

About the Movie

The haunting story of “The Giver” centers on Jonas (Brenton Thwaites), a young man who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Yet as he begins to spend time with The Giver (Jeff Bridges), who is the sole keeper of all the community’s memories, Jonas quickly begins to discover the dark and deadly truths of his community’s secret past. With this newfound power of knowledge, he realizes that the stakes are higher than imagined – a matter of life and death for himself and those he loves most. At extreme odds, Jonas knows that he must escape their world to protect them all – a challenge that no one has ever succeeded at before. “The Giver” is based on Lois Lowry’s beloved young adult novel of the same name, which was the winner the 1994 Newbery Medal and has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.

For more information on the movie please visit https://thegiverfilm.com/

About Walden Media

Walden Media creates entertainment for the whole family through successful movies, award-winning books, and acclaimed television programs.  A Walden Media production celebrates a great book well told, a great life well lived, or an exploration that expands present possibilities – all while inspiring and entertaining its audience. Past award-winning films include: “The Chronicles of Narnia” series, the “Journey to the Center of the Earth” series, “Nim’s Island,” “Charlotte’s Web,” “Bridge to Terabithia,” “Holes,” “Amazing Grace,” and the Sundance Audience Prize Winning documentary “Waiting for ‘Superman.’”

#       #       #

Press Inquiries

Dennis Dembia / Alice Chung

Rogers & Cowan

Phone: 310.854.8114 / 310.854.8226

[email protected] / [email protected]

The Society of Illustrators will make a difference in the lives of 30 at-risk youth ages 9-13 from the most vulnerable neighborhoods in New York City this July through their Summer Illustration Art Academy. This project with the Department of Parks & Recreation is supported in-part by private, corporate and government grants including New York State Council on the Arts.

Students attending the Academy learn multi-media drawing techniques from several prominent illustrators and comic artists. Using NYC cultural, historical and scientific institutions as their learning labs they will and gain greater insight into the life of an illustrator.

Each student receives a backpack filled with art supplies, textbook and Academy T-shirt for easy identification while traveling to such famous NYC landmarks as the Central Park Zoo, Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden, Bronx Museum of the Arts, New York Tansit Museum, American Museum of Natural History and Queens County Farm Museum. Students will also engage with a teaching artist at Materials for the Arts for a full-day, hands-on program learning the art of 3-D illustration. The Society provides nutritious lunches and orients the youth to the program at their Museum of American Illustration located in an 1875 Carriage House on East 63rd Street.

This year’s roster of renowned Academy instructors include: Melinda Beck, Stephen Gardner, Brendan Leach, Josh Neufeld, Wendy Pop, and Marc Scheff.  They integrate their illustration and comic expertise with the NYS Learning Standards in the Visual Arts to provide students with holistic outcomes-based curriculum.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Community involvement and support are vital to ensuring that the camp continues.

The total cost for one child’s camp experience is $500, which includes transportation, art supplies, back pack, tee shirts, text book, lunch and snacks, site fees and instructors.

Please help us make the Summer Illustration Art Academy possible by making a tax deductible donation.

* $500 Donation:Send one child the the Academy for 1 full week.

* $300 Donation: will fund a child’s supplies, instructors and site fees for 1 full week.

* $200 Donation: will support a child’s supplies and instructors for 1 full week.

* $150 Donation: will cover the cost of a child’s transportation for 1 full week to such sites as the NY Transit Museum and The Rubin Museum.

* $50 Donation: will buy lunch and snacks for one child for 1 full week.

Your donation at any level you can afford will contribute to this worthwhile program. 

Click here to donate now.

Today’s Press Release is probably going to be mostly interesting to teachers in the NYC area.  It’s awfully cool stuff, though, so if you happen to know of a teacher in the area you might want to give them a heads up.

I am very excited to share with you news of a project that is launching this week. This August, we will be hosting the first-ever Bklyn Teacher Lab: a free, 2-week course for classroom teachers happening in the Info Commons classroom.

The Lab is meant to introduce teachers to some of the many excellent (and free) teaching and learning resources available–both what is available to educators through the library and those freely available online. The course will also give strategies for resource use and application in the classroom. Applications for the Lab open this week and we will be accepting a class of 25 teachers to attend the course. 60 PD credits are available for teachers who complete the course.

Specifically, the Lab will explore:

• Free Brooklyn Public Library resources to use in the classroom—books, digital archives, audio & video, primary source collections, and more.
• The Brooklyn Collection—tools and techniques for researching Brooklyn history.
• The Child’s Place for Special Needs—strategies and services for teaching to special needs.
• Effective online searching—how to make the most of tools like Google, Wikipedia, and more.
• Using fiction and non-fiction books, eBooks and audioBooks to grow student passion for reading and learning.
• Free online tools for educational use—the New York Times Learning Network, the Digital Public Library of America,pbs.org, TED talks, and more.
• The Common Core State Standards (CCSS)—practical applications of the new standards for lesson planning and student engagement.

Please feel free to circulate the following information to any teachers you think may be interested.

www.bklynpubliclibrary.org/parents-teachers/teachers-lab

A downloadable flyer is available here:

http://bline.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/comm/trilidoesr/Shared%20Documents/Teachers%27%20Academy/TeacherLab_Flyer.docx

Today’s Press Release is probably going to be mostly interesting to teachers in the NYC area.  It’s awfully cool stuff, though, so if you happen to know of a teacher in the area you might want to give them a heads up.

I am very excited to share with you news of a project that is launching this week. This August, we will be hosting the first-ever Bklyn Teacher Lab: a free, 2-week course for classroom teachers happening in the Info Commons classroom.

The Lab is meant to introduce teachers to some of the many excellent (and free) teaching and learning resources available–both what is available to educators through the library and those freely available online. The course will also give strategies for resource use and application in the classroom. Applications for the Lab open this week and we will be accepting a class of 25 teachers to attend the course. 60 PD credits are available for teachers who complete the course.

Specifically, the Lab will explore:

• Free Brooklyn Public Library resources to use in the classroom—books, digital archives, audio & video, primary source collections, and more.
• The Brooklyn Collection—tools and techniques for researching Brooklyn history.
• The Child’s Place for Special Needs—strategies and services for teaching to special needs.
• Effective online searching—how to make the most of tools like Google, Wikipedia, and more.
• Using fiction and non-fiction books, eBooks and audioBooks to grow student passion for reading and learning.
• Free online tools for educational use—the New York Times Learning Network, the Digital Public Library of America,pbs.org, TED talks, and more.
• The Common Core State Standards (CCSS)—practical applications of the new standards for lesson planning and student engagement.

Please feel free to circulate the following information to any teachers you think may be interested.

www.bklynpubliclibrary.org/parents-teachers/teachers-lab

A downloadable flyer is available here:

http://bline.brooklynpubliclibrary.org/comm/trilidoesr/Shared%20Documents/Teachers%27%20Academy/TeacherLab_Flyer.docx

Here in New York City the Teen Author Carnival gets a lot of attention. Now there’s going to be a Kids Author Carnival chock FULL of middle grade authors. Check out this jaw-dropping line-up and mark your calendars:

IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Mary Van Akin
(646) 307-5210 | [email protected]

Czech Center New York Presents Exhibition of the Work of Acclaimed Artist, Illustrator, Author, and Filmmaker Peter Sís

Peter Sís: Cartography of the Mind

Peter Sís: Cartography of the Mind on View May 8 through September 2, 2014
Media Preview and Opening Reception
Wednesday, May 7, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Czech Center New York at the Bohemian National Hall
321 E 73rd Street, New York, NY 10021

Some fifty works by the internationally-acclaimed artist, illustrator, author and filmmaker, Peter Sís, will be on view in the exhibition Peter Sís: Cartography of the Mind at the Czech Center New York May 8 through September 2, 2014.

Featuring drawings, watercolors and gouaches drawn from the artist’s extensive collection, Cartography of the Mind presents Sís’s renderings depicting man’s unending quest for discovery. That discovery takes place in the realm of science through works from several books, authored and illustrated by Sís, including Starry Messenger: Galileo (Farrar, Straus and Giroux,1996), about scientist and astronomer Galileo, The Tree of Life (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003) that explores the life of naturalist and thinker Charles Darwin.

Also on view will be works from books that illustrate courageous travels through uncharted territories and activities including Follow the Dream: The Story of Christopher Columbus (Knopf Young Readers, l991); A Small Tall Tale From The Far Far North (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2001), a book about the relatively unknown Czech explorer, Jan Welzl, that was named The New York Times Best Illustrated Book of the Year; Tibet Through The Red Box (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998), a magical retelling of a personal story of a father and son; and his most recent book, The Pilot and the Little Prince: The Life of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2014), that celebrates the author of the classic The Little Prince. An exhibition of Saint-Exupéry’s original manuscript pages for The Little Prince titled The Little Prince: A New York Story is on view through April 27 at the Morgan Library & Museum. In connection, Peter Sís will appear at the Morgan on Tuesday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m. to talk about his new book.

“In all of this work, Sís first carries out extensive research about the subject in order to assure correct factual information. He then presents this information with illustrations of unprecedented beauty and imagination. His books are intended for adults and children alike, for all those for whom the narrative in the arts, be it visual or verbal, can be seen as the way to unbridled aesthetic enrichment,” states the curator of the exhibition Charlotta Kotik.

Peter Sís was born in Czechoslovakia, where he studied art and filmmaking. He continued his studies at the Royal College of Art in London and moved to United States in l982. He is an author and illustrator of nearly thirty books and has illustrated many other publications by various authors. Sís is a recipient of the prestigious McArthur Fellowship, the Hans Christian Foundation Award for Illustration, the Caldecott Honor Book Awards, and numerous others honors and awards. In addition, he has contributed more than one thousand drawings to The New York Times Book Review and his illustrations have appeared in such publications as Time magazine, The Atlantic Monthly, Newsweek, and Esquire. His work as a filmmaker has also garnered awards including the Golden Bear Award at the West Berlin Film Festival, the Grand Prix Toronto, and the CINE Golden Eagle Award.

Charlotta Kotik, a native of Prague, has organized more than one hundred museum exhibitions. From 1992 to 2007, she was Curator and Chair of the Contemporary Art Department at the Brooklyn Museum. Ms. Kotik served as the United States commissioner for the Venice Biennale in 1993 where she presented works by Louise Bourgeois. Presently, she works as a writer, lecturer, independent curator, and teaches at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.

Peter Sís: Cartography of the Mind is organized by the Czech Center New York and Bohemian Benevolent & Literary Association in collaboration with Farrar, Straus and Giroux, an imprint of Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, New York; Ryan Lee Gallery, New York; Labyrinth Publishers, Prague; and the Consulate General of the Czech Republic in New York.

Established in 1995, the Czech Center New York is a meeting place for Czech and local culture, a place where artists and professionals, Czech and non-Czech alike, can get to know each other and share their work. While the Center’s focus is on contemporary Czech artists, the organization is committed to the support of new international projects and is a welcoming place for all ideas that address current cultural or social issues.

Remember back in January when I hosted the ALA Media Awards Pre-Game / Post-Game Show with my partner in crime Lori Ess?  Well, the dynamic duo/gruesome twosome is back, baby!  Thanks to the good people of Scholastic, Lori and I are tackling summer reading.  Granted, we’re doing it in a typing/chat like setting and not live video, but you’ll get our customary repartee, I should think.

So save that date!!

How do we feel about participating in this?  Something along these lines:

Hope to see you there!

I don’t always blog the auctions I see online, but sometimes the cause is good and the timing is right.  Recently the right good honorable LeUyen Pham emailed me about an auction of children’s book art that sounds, in a word, fan-freaking-tastic.  Said she:

Fellow illustrator and artist-who’s-work-i-totally-love CARSON ELLIS has put together an online auction of some incredible artists!  Please please please go online and make a bid for some of these pieces!  The artist list reads like a who’s-who in the world of children’s art, and some of this stuff you’ll never be able to find anywhere.  And it’s all for a great cause — Victory Academy, a school for autistic children in Oregon.
List of artist and link follows:

MARLA FRAZEE * JEN CORACE * LEUYEN PHAM * NIKKI MCCLURE * JON KLASSEN * ADAM REX * ELEANOR DAVIS * LAURA PARK * ROMAN MURADOV * HEATHER ROSS * GILBERT FORD * MATT MYERS * SOPHIE BLACKALL * LISA BROWN * MELISSA GUION * DIANA SUDYKA * LANE SMITH * CHRIS TURNHAM * CHUCK GROENINK * CARIN BERGER * MO WILLEMS * GREG PIZZOLI * MARIA VAN LIESHOUT * JOANNA NEBORSKY * CARSON ELLIS

She ain’t wrong.  Trouble is, it all ends on Thursday so you’ve very little time to go.  Just to give you a taste, here are some of the beauties I’ve seen there:

Why yes.  That is original Clementine art by Marla Frazee.  Why do you ask?

Interestingly, my kiddo discovered Little Hoot before she discovered Little Pea.  So you can imagine how tempting owning the original art might be to me.

I don’t have to tell you that there’s a movie of The True Meaning of Smekday on the very near horizon.  But it wouldn’t hurt to own some original art from said book.  Just sayin’.

Plus there are a bunch of folks willing to do commissioned pet or people portraits.  So go!  Scoot!  Flee!  Get that stuff up and feel virtuous in the process.

You know when you make a friend who works in a different field than you and then, in time, your mutual interests come together?  Years ago my friend Katie married a talented composer by the name of Haddon Kime.  Haddon was kind enough to create the opening music of my short lived podcast and then that was that.  Now years have passed and the man behind the music and lyrics of the kick arse punk rock version of The Snow Queen (good timing with Frozen and all, eh?) is coming to the New York Musical Theatre Festival.  Woo-hoo!  Couldn’t be happier for everyone involved.

Additional Productions and Readings Announced for 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival

By Michael Gioia
14 Apr 2014
The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced additional productions and readings for its 2014 Festival, which will run July 7-27.

“We were fortunate to have a bumper crop of very high quality shows this year,” said NYMF executive director and producer Dan Markley in a statement. “Whether it’s your first time at the Festival or you’ve been joining us for years, you’re in for a great musical theatre experience in July.”

The 2014 Festival’s productions will be housed at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre and the Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street) as well as other venues to be announced.

“NYMF audiences will have a chance to experience a wide range of stories told in fresh and inventive ways for a contemporary audience, from a steam-punk inspired Hans Christian Andersen tale for a family audience, to an R&B infused depiction of the lives of Sally Hemings and Marie Antoinette,” added director of programming Mary Kate Burke.

Memberships for the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival are on sale, and members can book tickets beginning June 2. Single tickets will go on sale June 16. To purchase a membership, visit NYMF.org/Member.

Newly announced productions follow:

The Snow Queen Book by Kirsten Brandt and Rick Lombardo
Music by Haddon Kime, lyrics by Kirsten Brandt, Haddon Kime and Rick Lombardo
Additional music by Rick Lombardo
“Be spirited away by this new musical adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s fantastical coming-of-age adventure. Join Gerda on a dangerous and whimsical quest to save her best friend Kai before he is trapped forever in the Snow Queen’s palace. Dare to enter a world where flowers sing, animals talk, and riddles yearn to be solved. With an original pop rock score, alluring ballads, urban steam punk flair, and the enigmatic Snow Queen, you’ll soon see this is not your average bedtime story.”

You can follow the production on Twitter at @SnowQueenShow. And here’s a video from the production, in case you’re curious:

I’m so pleased with this next Salon that I’m fit to burst.  Somehow I managed to wrangle THREE of our best children’s literary podcasters into one place at one time.  If I were a person prone to the term “squee” I would apply it here, now.

New York Public Library is pleased to announce our next Children’s Literary Salon held this Saturday, April 19th at 2:00 p.m.:

Join podcasters Katie Davis (Brain Burps About Books), John Sellers (PW KidsCast), and Matthew Winner (Let’s Get Busy) in conversation about the world of children’s literary podcasting and their experiences with the form.

Katie Davis is a children’s author/illustrator with titles ranging from picture books like Little Chicken’s Big Day to her latest, a young adult novel called Dancing With the Devil. She’s a video marketing maven and a “writerpreneur” with the #1 podcast in iTunes in the Children’s Publishing category Brain Burps About Books, and teaches tech-wary writers how to build and strengthen their platforms through video. She also coaches on social media and marketing, or as Katie calls it, “making friends and meeting people.”

John A. Sellers is the children’s reviews editor at Publishers Weekly. He also hosts the magazine’s children’s books podcast,PW KidsCast, and edits its cookbooks e-newsletter, Cooking the Books.

Elementary teacher and librarian Matthew Winner blogs at The Busy Librarian and is the creator of the Let’s Get Busypodcast.  In 2013 he was named one of SLJ’s Movers & Shakers.  Citing “his innovative ideas and boundless enthusiasm for student learning and engagement” SLJ also highlighted that Matthew is Maryland’s 2012 Outstanding User of Technology Educator, is a White House “Champion of Change,” and a published author.
This event will take place in the Stephen A. Schwarzman building (the main branch of New York Public Library) in the South Court Auditorium.

Yet another reason why we all should live in Minneapolis. I ain’t kidding, actually. Man, I wish I could go to this.

Rejoice the Legacy! 

 

What: 2014 May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture

When: Saturday, May 3, Doors open at 6:30 p.m., lecture at 7:00 p.m. with reception and book signing following

Where: Willey Hall, West Bank, University of Minnesota 225 19th Avenue S
, Minneapolis, MN 55455

Who: Andrea Davis Pinkney

Who is this event for?Parents , Educators and Librarians and children over twelve. Anyone interested in Children’s Literature, Literacy and Education. Groups are welcome.

Tickets: http://www.eventbrite.com/myevent?eid=6654895973

Best-selling author Andrea Davis Pinkney will present the May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture at the University of Minnesota on May 3, 7 p.m. This national event is free and open to the public, but advance tickets are required for admission. Get tickets at  . Groups of over 20 are encouraged to make reservations by emailing [email protected] or calling 612-626-9182. For information about the exhibit Rejoice the Legacy! open through May 10, 2014.

The Arbuthnot Honor Lecture celebrates May Hill Arbuthnot, who served as a strong voice for children’s literature. Each year the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) chooses a lecturer who contributes a significant research paper to the field of children’s literature. The paper is subsequently published in “Children & Libraries,” the journal of the ALSC. ALSC established the lecture series in 1969.

About Andrea Davis Pinkney
Andrea Davis Pinkney is a New York Times best-selling writer of more than 20 books for children and young adults, including picture books, novels, and nonfiction.  During the course of her career, Pinkney has launched many high-profile publishing and entertainment entities, including Hyperion Books for Children/Disney Publishing’s Jump at the Sun imprint, which is the first African American children’s book imprint at a major publishing company.

About the Children’s Literature Research Collections
The Children’s Literature Research Collections at the University of Minnesota Libraries was chosen to host the event by the ALSC and its 2014 May Hill Arbuthnot Committee. The CLRC includes the Kerlan Collection — one of the world’s great children’s literature research collections — and includes books, original illustrations, and manuscripts significant in the history of children’s literature, including those of Pinkney.

So I don’t know if you’ve been following but there’s been quite a sane, collected, interesting discussion going on in my last Press Release about the CBC’s Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards.  Long story short, Rush Limbaugh’s book was nominated and folks are debating the merits or demerits of its inclusion.  I feel like I may be cursing the entire enterprise by even mentioning it, but it’s so civilized that I highly recommend you take a gander.

As for today’s post, the actual voting for said Book Awards is up and running at ccbookawards.com.  So get out your kids.  Teach them about the voting process.  Get them in there voting for their favorites.  Nuff said.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

Seeks Public Submissions for its

What’s Your Favorite Animal? Exhibition

(Amherst, MA—March 10, 2014) The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is creating a special exhibition to celebrate the new book, What’s Your Favorite Animal? by Eric Carle and Friends. The Museum will showcase the original work of the 14 published artists as well as a digital exhibition from friends from around the world.

The Museum is inviting people of all ages to submit a digital image of an original work of art depicting your own favorite animal. Submissions will be available on a digital screen in the gallery from April 8-August 31 and will be included in an online exhibition that will live on our museum’s blog. Those interested in sharing their favorite animals should submit high-resolution JPG images acceptable for viewing online. Submissions will be accepted from now until August 1, 2014.

“We are thrilled to welcome people’s favorite animal drawings,” says Alexandra Kennedy, executive director. “Since we have posted the project to our website, we have heard from people as far away as Italy. We look forward to welcoming people’s artwork and being able to showcase it with our friends around the world.”

All royalties from What’s Your Favorite Animal?, published by Holt and Company, benefit The Carle and its educational programs.

Submission Information

For submission instructions and guidelines, see www.carlemuseum.org (or for a direct link, go to http://carlemuseum.org/content/whats-your-favorite-animal-project).

About the Book

Published by Henry Holt and Company and released on January 21, 2014, What’s Your Favorite Animal? features distinctive illustration and imaginative answers to the classic question posed by its title. Contributors are Nick Bruel, Eric Carle, Lucy Cousins, Susan Jeffers, Steven Kellogg, Jon Klassen, Tom Lichtenheld, Peter McCarty, Chris Raschka, Peter Sís, Lane Smith, Erin Stead, Rosemary Wells, and Mo Willems. All royalties from the book will benefit The Carle and its educational programs.

The book has already gained acclaim from children’s book critics, including a starred review in Publishers Weekly. A review in Kirkus concludes: “This menagerie offers picture-book lovers of all ages a glimpse into each creator’s style, personality and brand of humor.” Stories range from the sentimental, like Rosemary Wells’ ode to her pet terrier, to the whimsical, such as Tom Lichtenheld’s poem about what to do when meeting a giraffe, to the downright absurd—Nick Bruel’s description of an octopus is rudely interrupted by his recurring character Bad Kitty.

“To see how each contributor answers the question in his or her own unique way is delightful and surprising and will surely inspire young readers to answer the question for themselves!” says Laura Godwin, vice president and publisher for Henry Holt Books for Young Readers. The “What’s Your Favorite Animal?” Project will surely reveal many colorful, creative, and wide-ranging answers from around the world.

            About the Museum

The mission of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, a non-profit organization in Amherst, MA, is to inspire a love of art and reading through picture books. The only full-scale museum of its kind in the United States, The Carle collects, preserves, presents, and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world. In addition to underscoring the cultural, historical, and artistic significance of picture books and their art form, The Carle offers educational programs that provide a foundation for arts integration and literacy. 

Eric and Barbara Carle founded the Museum in November 2002. Eric Carle is the renowned author and illustrator of more than 70 books, including the 1969 classic The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Since opening, the 40,000-square foot facility has served more than half a million visitors, including 30,000 schoolchildren. Its extensive resources include a collection of more than 10,000 picture book illustrations, three art galleries, an art studio, a theater, picture book and scholarly libraries, and educational programs for families, scholars, educators, and schoolchildren. Educational offerings include professional training for educators around the country. Museum hours are Tuesday through Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday 12 noon to 5 p.m. Open Mondays in July and August and during MA school vacation weeks. Admission is $9 for adults, $6 for children under 18, and $22.50 for a family of four. For further information and directions, call 413-658-1100 or visit the Museum’s website at www.carlemuseum.org.

IMAGES ARE AVAILABLE FOR REPRODUCTION    For additional press information and/or images, please contact Sandy Soderberg, Marketing Manager (413) 658–1105 / [email protected]

###

Sandy Soderberg

Marketing Manager

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

125 West Bay Road

Amherst, MA  01002

t (413) 658-1105

f (413) 658-1139

[email protected]

http://www.carlemuseum.org

Good old Symphony Space has two HUGE authors in the realm of children’s books coming to speak. And though you won’t see it in the press release below, I’m slated to interview the Newbery Honor winner amongst them. Woo-hoo! So take note:

Thalia Kids’ Book Club events with top authors
Tickets: $15/$12 members 

http://www.symphonyspace.org/events/series/96/thalia-kidsrsquo-book-club

Saturday, March 15, 4 pm: Kevin Henkes
Spend the afternoon with the beloved author of Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, winner of the Caldecott Award, and The Year of Billy Miller, a 2014 Newbery Honor Book, as he discusses his creative process. His latest unforgettable character, second-grader Billy Miller, is the star of this new novel–a fast-paced and funny story about friendship, sibling rivalry, and elementary school. The Year of Billy Miller includes black-and-white art by Henkes and is perfect for fans of the Ramona books, Frindle by Andrew Clements, and the Clementine series. Ages 7 – 10.

Tuesday, March 18, 4 pm: Jeff Kinney
The #1 best-selling author of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books shares with fans the good fortune that helped him get published and offers a look into some of his favorite moments, plus a peek into how he gets his ideas and puts new books together.

In the eighth Wimpy Kid book, Greg Heffley’s on a losing streak. His best friend, Rowley Jefferson, has ditched him, and finding new friends in middle school is proving to be a tough task. To change his fortunes, Greg decides to take a leap of faith and turn his decisions over to chance. Will a roll of the dice turn things around, or is Greg’s life destined to be just another hard-luck story? Find out at this super fun event with author Jeff Kinney! Ages 7 and up.
Note: This event is limited to 300 attendees.

BESTSELLING FANCY NANCY ILLUSTRATOR ROBIN PREISS GLASSER’S OFFICIAL 2014 CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK POSTER UNVEILED AT BOOKWEEKONLINE.COM

PREISS GLASSER’S OFFICIAL POSTER COMMEMORATES THE 95TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF CHILDREN’S BOOK WEEK (MAY 12-18, 2014), THE LONGEST-RUNNING NATIONAL LITERACY INITIATIVE IN THE COUNTRY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

New York, NY — February 27, 2014 – The Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader have unveiled Robin Preiss Glasser’s official 2014 Children’s Book Week poster at bookweekonline.com, commemorating the 95th annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading. 175,000 copies will be distributed nationwide, and may be requested online at no cost beyond shipping. 2014 will be the largest celebration of Children’s Book Week yet, with official events –which give kids the opportunity to connect with their favorite authors and illustrators in person – in all 50 states for the first time in the initiative’s history.

Robin Preiss Glasser is the 2013 Children’s Choice Illustrator of the Year Award-winner for Fancy Nancy and the Mermaid Ballet, part of the Fancy Nancy series which has more than 50 titles and has been on the New York Times Bestsellers list for more than 350 weeks. Her poster shows a group of children of all ages reading together on a chair quilted with the covers of classic children’s books including Eloise, Goodnight Moon, The Twits, The Purple Crayon, Call of the Wild, Charlotte’s Web, and other favorites.

“To be a part of Children’s Book Week, with its recognition of the joy of storytelling and importance of reading, is truly an honor,” says Robin Preiss Glasser. “In creating the poster for this year’s celebration, I follow in the footsteps of so many great children’s book illustrators, many of whose work enchanted me as a child. It is thrilling to have the opportunity to share my art with the libraries, schools, and book stores that are part of the Children’s Book Council’s and Every Child a Reader’s outreach, as together we share our love of storybooks with young audiences.”

Each year since Children’s Book Week’s inception in 1919, a distinguished children’s book illustrator has been called upon to create an official Children’s Book Week poster to be distributed nationwide. Over the literacy initiative’s 95 storied years, posters have been created by children’s literature icons including Brian Selznick, Ian Falconer, Jon J Muth, Maurice Sendak, Ezra Jack Keats, Richard Scarry, Ellen Raskin, Laurent deBrunhoff, Tomie dePaola, Rosemary Wells, Garth Williams, Marc Brown, and Jerry Pinkney. The Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader are honored to add Robin Preiss Glasser’s beautiful work to these historic commemorations of Children’s Book Week.

54 W. 39th St., Floor 14, New York, NY, 10018, 212.966.1990

www.cbcbooks.org/www.ecarfoundation.org

About Robin Preiss Glasser

Robin Preiss Glasser is the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator of the Fancy Nancy series, written by Jane O’Connor; America: A Patriotic Primer, A is for Abigail, and Our Fifty States by Lynne Cheney, and Tea for Ruby by Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. She lives in Southern California with her family, puppy, and tiara collection. Learn more at robinpreissglasser.com.

About the Fancy Nancy Series

With more than 24 million books sold since the series launched in December 2005 and more than 350 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, the Fancy Nancy franchise shows no sign of slowing down. Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser have appeared on The Today Show, The Martha Stewart Show and on TLC’s Mall Cops and have been featured in over 100 daily newspapers. The Fancy Nancy series has been translated into 18 languages and has over 30 licensees to date. In 2008, Fancy Nancy was named the Book Character of the Year by Global License. Fancy Nancy also received two nominations for the Toy Industry Association’s Toy of the Year Awards, two nominations for the 2009 LIMA International Licensing Excellence Awards and was named the Best Character Brand Program of the Year.

About Children’s Book Week (CBW)

Established in 1919, CBW is the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country. Each year, official and local commemorative events are held nationwide at schools, libraries, bookstores, homes — wherever young readers and books connect. In 2014, official events will be held in all 50 states for the first time in the initiative’s history. Learn more at bookweekonline.com.

About Every Child a Reader (ECAR)

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; enhance public perception of the importance of reading. ECAR’s national 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 ecarfoundation.org for more information.

About the Children’s Book Council (CBC)

The Children’s Book Council is the national nonprofit trade association for children’s book publishers, and the anchor sponsor of Children’s Book Week. 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. 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 cbcbooks.org for more information.

Contact:

Nicole Deming

Senior Communications Manager

The Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader

212/966-1990

[email protected]

For more information, contact:

Ayanna Coleman, [email protected], (585) 902-8548

New Digital Literary Agency Utilizing Crowdfunding Now Open for Author Submissions

Quill Shift Literary Agency LLC asks readers to decide what manuscripts it sends to publishing houses by putting money behind their favorite choices

New York, NY – December 10, 2013 – Ayanna Coleman launched Quill Shift Literary Agency LLC quietly on Sunday, December 1^st, 2013 by opening her website for submissions and starting an Indiegogo campaign to gain support. Quill Shift embraces social media and crowdfunding to empower readers to join in on the publishing process and, through this engagement and empowerment, expand and strengthen the reach of authors’ work while demonstrating their market appeal to publishing houses. Books will be publicized before publishing houses even decide to buy them and readers will be given the chance to dictate what’s sold in the market before the story sits on the bookstore shelves.

“Through my work connected to diversity initiatives in the children’s publishing industry, I’ve realized that if I want to see change in the publishing industry I can’t just ask other people to do it, I’ve got to stick my neck out there and make it happen,” Coleman explains. “The industry is changing quickly, readers’ preferences are changing even faster, and publishing houses need help to achieve the dynamism to profit from these shifts. I want to make sure that representative stories aren’t falling to the wayside, especially because the makeup of our country is so diverse.

What I’m seeing is that children’s publishers are hesitant to take a chance on new authors featuring nonwhite characters because they don’t think readers will buy those books. That’s why Quill Shift Literary Agency is so important. Readers need the chance to say that they want to read those stories before publishers have a chance to say no.”

For the past two years, Coleman has organized educational and social events for children’s book publishers. During her time organizing, attending, and moderating panels, discussion groups, and industry meetings, she realized that the children’s publishing industry needs a serious shift to find more diverse and broad work.

Coleman claims, “I’m a librarian at heart. I’ve been taught by some of the best that you have to ask the readers questions–and really listen to and extrapolate from their answers–to fully understand what they truly want to devour next. I’m ready to ask the questions and I’m excited to see what kind of answers I receive.”

# # #

For more information about the spirit behind Quill Shift Literary Agency, visit the Indiegogo campaign athttp://igg.me/at/quillshift/x/5421736.

For more information about whom Quill Shift Literary Agency represents, how to share reading preferences with the Agency, and how publishers can get involved, visit www.quillshift.com.

About Quill Shift Literary Agency LLC

Quill Shift Literary Agency LLC is a boutique agency representing the intellectual property rights of authors who create children’s and young adult books. Quill Shift executes traditional representation services such as editorial consultation, contract negotiation, and business management as well as services beyond the traditional, including establishing a solid platform and buzz for an author before their manuscript is sent to a publishing house.

This was, quite simply, too cool not to promote in some way.  It’s precisely touching on a topic we’ve all been discussing for a while.  I would kill to go:

The University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies is pleased to announce the 2014 National Latino Children’s Literature Conference to be held in Tuscaloosa, AL on March 13-14, 2014. This exclusive conference was created for the purpose of promoting high-quality children’s and young adult books about the Latino cultures and to offer a forum for librarians, educators, researchers, and students to openly discuss strategies for meeting the informational, educational, and literacy needs of Latino youth (children and teens) and their families. 

Featuring nationally-acclaimed Latino literacy scholars and award-winning Latino authors and illustrators of children’s and young adult books, this exclusive conference is truly an unforgettable experience. Authors for 2014 include Margarita Engle, Meg Medina, Lila Quintero Weaver, Laura Lacamara, and Irania Patterson. Latino children’s literature publicist Adriana Dominguez will also present on the state of Latino children’s literature publishing.

Request for Proposals:  We invite poster and program proposals that contribute to and extend existing knowledge in the following areas: Latino children’s and young adult literature, bilingual education, Latino family involvement in the school curriculum, Latino cultural literacy, library services to Latino children and their families, literacy programs utilizing Latino children’s literature, educational needs of Latino children, educational opportunities and collaborations with El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day), Latino children’s responses to culturally-responsive literature, social influences of children’s media on Latino youth, Noche de Cuentos literacy programs in schools and libraries, creating cross-cultural connections with Latino children’s literature, and other related topics. Presentations and posters can share recent research or provide practical suggestions for current or preservice librarians and educators. The National Latino Children’s Literature Conference is both a research and practitioner conference and proposals are peer reviewed.

Program/Paper Proposals: Programs/papers can be a presentation of research  or  practical suggestions for teachers, librarians, and other educators. To submit your program/paper proposal, please provide the following information:  a 250 word (maximum) abstract of your presentation along with the program title;  the name of the program organizer; the names of all presenters and their affiliations along with their preferred contact phone, email, and address; and your preferred presentation day (Thursday, Friday, or Either) to conference chair Dr. Jamie Campbell Naidoo at [email protected]. Please be sure to put “program proposal” in your subject heading.

Poster Proposals: Posters can be a presentation of research  or  practical suggestions for teachers, librarians, and other educators. To submit your poster proposal, please provide the following information:  the title of your poster; a 200 word (maximum) abstract of your poster; the subject of your poster (choose Literature/Media Studies, Programs & Services in Libraries, Educational & Literacy Strategies, or Exemplary Programs); your name and affiliation; your preferred contact phone, email, and address; and your preferred presentation day (Thursday, Friday, or Either) to conference chair Dr. Jamie Campbell Naidoo at [email protected]. Please be sure to put “poster proposal” in your subject heading. Easels will be provided for posters and additional information about poster size will be provided with the acceptance letters.

 The deadline for proposal submissions is midnight December 9, 2013  with notification of acceptance on or before December 18, 2013. More information is available on the conference website: http://www.latinochildlitconf.org/.

AFTER TWO DECADES, LEE & LOW BOOKS CONTINUES TO GROW
WITH ACQUISITION OF SHEN’S BOOKS

November 18, 2013— New York, NY— LEE & LOW BOOKS, an independent
children’s book publisher focused on diversity, has acquired children’s book publisher
Shen’s Books. The acquisition is a new milestone in the growth of LEE & LOW
BOOKS, which published its first book twenty years ago and has maintained its
commitment to diversity in children’s books for two decades.

Originally based in California, Shen’s Books was founded as a retailer in 1985 and
began publishing books in 1997. Its books emphasize cultural diversity and tolerance,
with a focus on introducing children to the cultures of Asia. Titles include the popular
Cora Cooks Pancit, about a young girl cooking up a favorite Filipino dish with her
mother, and the Cinderella series, which features retellings of the Cinderella story from
cultures around the world.

“I am thrilled that our titles will be joining the amazing catalog of books at LEE &
LOW,” said Renee Ting, president and publisher of Shen’s Books. “There is no better
publisher I can think of to carry on the values and spirit of Shen’s Books and advance
the cause of diversity in children’s publishing.”

Shen’s Books will now become an imprint of LEE & LOW BOOKS, which will publish
both backlist Shen’s titles and new books. The Shen’s Books imprint of LEE & LOW
BOOKS will release seven reprints in early 2014, as well as one new title in the spring:
Summoning the Phoenix, a collection of poems about Chinese musical instruments by
Emily Jiang and illustrated by April Chu.

“We have admired the work that was done by Shen’s in the past, and we are honored to
continue their legacy,” said Jason Low, Publisher of LEE & LOW BOOKS. “LEE &
LOW’s emphasis on diversity, cultural authenticity, and high-quality artwork makes it a
perfect home for Shen’s Books.”

The acquisition comes a year after LEE & LOW’s acquisition of Children’s Book Press,
another California-based multicultural children’s book publisher. Since then, LEE &
LOW BOOKS has brought over 85% of Children’s Book Press’s backlist titles back into
print, with several more planned for the upcoming year.

LEE & LOW BOOKS is the largest children’s book publisher in the country specializing
in diversity. The company provides a comprehensive range of diverse books for young
readers, from Bebop Books for children just learning to read to picture books from its
LEE & LOW and CBP imprints, to gripping speculative fiction for young adults from
Tu Books.

For more information about LEE & LOW BOOKS, visit leeandlow.com.

Admittedly this is happening this Saturday, so your window of opportunity is closing fast. That said, it sounds dee-lightful.  Check out what the Bank Street College of Education has on the roster:

Saturday, November 9, 2013

Writers Lab Mini-Conference 2: “The Nitty Gritty”

8:30-9:00AM Registration and Coffee

9:00-9:30AM Opening Keynote – Beth Kephart on the Teaching of Truth

9:30-10:10AM  On Reviewing – Roger Sutton from The Horn Book, Vicky Smith from Kirkus Reviews, Luann Toth from School Library Journal and Sarah Smith, children’s editor of The New York Times Book Review.

10:15-11:00AM Breakout Discussion on “Mentor Texts”

Please select from the list of discussion leaders.

11:00AM to 12:00PM Autographing Session

REGISTER HERE

Conference fee: $50

Note: The one-on-one critique appointments are now filled, but it’s a terrific morning chock full of great speakers and ideas.

- – - – -

Link to Discussion leaders:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/bankstreet_web/media/filer_public/filer_public/2013/10/01/mentor-text-discussion-leaders.pdf

Link to Registration:

https://www.eventbrite.com/event/8590627799

Hi, folks!  Here’s a thing I’m doing on Monday, November 4th.  Come see me and a bevy of talented authors on a topic that I’m going to handle in a new way.

Books about Bullying: A Google+ Hangout

(or Bullying Prevention: How Books Can Help)

The New York Public Library hosts a special on air Google+ Hangout on overcoming bullying, how books can help, and aspiring to do more.

Our panel of authors and artists share their own personal struggles with bullies and they learned to cope. Guests include Tim Federle, Eric Kahn Gale, and Laura Vaccaro Seeger. Moderated by NYPL’s Elizabeth Bird.

Tune in Monday, November 4, 2013 at 3 pm.  Go here to sign up!

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More about our guests:

Betsy Bird: Bird is a librarian, blogger with SLJ (at A Fuse #8 Production), and a reviewer for Kirkus and The New York Times. Her first picture book Giant Dance Party was released this spring and her next book is the very adult Wild Things: Acts of Mischief in Children’s Literature which she co-wrote with Jules Danielson and Peter Sieruta.

Tim Federle: Federle was born in Foster City, California and was later raised in Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania. He made his professional debut at age 12 in a production of Oliver! directed by Rob Marshall. He then went on to perform in several Broadway shows before penning his first novel, Better Nate Than Ever, a middle grade novel about an eighth-grader who dreams of performing in a Broadway musical and who concocts a plan to run away to New York to audition for the role of Elliot in the musical version of “E.T.”

Eric Kahn Gale: Michigan native Eric Kahn Gale originally self-published his middle grade novel The Bully Book on his own, before it was picked up by Harper Collins.  The book is loosely based on incidents that happened to him in sixth grade through the lens of a mystery novel. His character, Eric Haskins, doesn’t take his situation lying down; he searches for the answers and unlike many of us who went through something awful, he finds them. Though they’re not what he expected.

Laura Vaccaro Seeger: Laura Vaccaro Seeger is an Emmy-award winning artist and the critically acclaimed author and illustrator of “The Hidden Alphabet,” “Lemons are Not Red,” and “Walter Was Worried.” All were named ALA Notable Books and “Child Magazine” Best Books of the Year. Her picture book “Green” won a Caldecott Honor from the American Library Association in 2013.