Atticus Bookstore and Cafe (near Yale University) has caused a stir with a policy requiring employees to speak English only in public areas. “Spanish is allowed in the prep area, the dishwasher area and the lower level. Let’s make our customers feel welcome and comfortable,” a copy of the policy says. In a statement owner Charles Negaro said: “We encourage the use of English because it’s an appropriate way to be most helpful to our customers. To continue to provide the best service possible, we try to help those employees who speak English as a second language by helping them […]
Children's
Twilight Graphic Novel Set for March
Hachette Book Group’s Yen Press has announced a March 16 pub date and a 350,000-copy first printing for their first installment of the graphic novel version of Stephenie Meyer’s TWILIGHT. “As is typical in graphic novel publishing, due to the length of the prose novel, the book will be divided into two volumes and the release date for the second volume is forthcoming.” Illustrations are by Korean artist Young Kim.
Geringer Allies with Egmont USA
Children’s publishing start-up Egmont USA has “formed an alliance” with Laura Geringer Books. Geringer ran her imprint for 17 years at Harper Children’s until leaving the company last August. At the time, Susan Katz said in the memo announcing Geringer’s departure that she “looks forward to having more time to pursue her career as a writer, to devote her energies to the development of a new business with the capability of delivering story content on multiple platforms, and to channel more time into First Book.” Geringer will edit “a select group of titles” for Egmont starting with the fall 20l0 […]
More Changes at S&S Children's
Recently-appointed president and publisher of the Simon & Schuster Children’s division Jon Anderson announced “a number of transitions and consolidations,” reminding employees that “it is incumbent that we are structured in a way that maximizes our opportunities to publish vigorously and with our customary flair, while at the same time reflecting the realities of today’s marketplace.” Publisher of the Atheneum and Margaret K. McElderry imprints Emma Dryden will step down to an “advisory role” in which she will still edit authors including Ellen Hopkins, Karma Wilson and Alan Katz, while deputy publisher for Little Simon and Simon Spotlight Frank Totaro […]
Children's Booksellers Organization Considers Relationship with ABA
The Association of Booksellers for Children told members via e-mail that at a recent planning retreat the board decided to take “proactive” steps to ensure the organization’s long-term survival that may include “pool[ing] our resources with our sister association, the American Booksellers Association.” The options “include becoming a division of ABA, a department of ABA, or another configuration that we haven’t determined yet. This would have the advantage of giving ABC the resources of a larger organization while expanding the programming available to all ABA members.” ABA board president Gayle Shanks writes that “the ABA Board is excited about exploring […]
Libraries Bristle at CPSC's Warnings on Lead in Kids' Books
The AP checks in on the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s advisory to libraries to restrict access to kids’ books printed before 1986 while they study the lead content of such products to see if it complies with last year’s Federal ban on lead in most children’s products. “Steps can be taken to put them in an area on hold until the Consumer Product Safety Commission can give further guidance.” Executive director of the American Library Association’s Washington office Emily Sheketoff says, “We’re talking about tens of millions of copies of children’s books that are perfectly safe. I wish a reasonable, […]