Have you heard about Indies First Storytime Day on May 17, 2014? Children’s book authors will be storming indie bookstores on May 17, sharing favorite books! The American Booksellers Association (ABA), a community of independent booksellers, publishers, wholesalers, and other book-loving folk, posted this great announcement in Bookselling this Week. Excerpts are below, but for all the details and links, including how authors can sign up and the interactive event map, be sure to click over to the article in its entirety.
Building on the success of the Indies First movement launched last year by Sherman Alexie, the American Booksellers Association today unveiled plans for Indies First Storytime Day, spearheaded by award-winning author Kate DiCamillo, the Library of Congress’ 2014 –2015 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature. Indies First Storytime Day will be celebrated at independent bookstores across the country on May 17, 2014, in conjunction with Children’s Book Week, which runs from May 12 –18, and ABA is working with the Children’s Book Council to help facilitate and grow the grassroots movement.
In the spirit of Alexie’s initial call to arms, DiCamillo has penned a letter to fellow authors and illustrators, asking them to volunteer at their favorite bookstore this May 17 in honor of Children’s Book Week.
“We are (with the express permission of Sherman Alexie, mind you) stealing this idea and running with it,” DiCamillo wrote.
However, this event has a new twist. Instead of handselling books, this time around authors are being asked to read from a children’s book of their choice. “The point is to read aloud, to celebrate stories and to celebrate the indies who work so hard to put our stories in the hands of readers,” said DiCamillo.
—Elizabeth Knapp, in Bookselling This Week Feb. 20, 2014
Watch for news from your favorite independent bookstores and favorite children’s book authors as plans develop.