PW: Children's Bookbag

To kick off publication of The Kids' Book of the 50 Great States this month, Borders and Scholastic Professional Books are sponsoring events in stores nationwide. This month, individual stores in 18 states will present their own version of "50 Great States Day," featuring the class and teacher that created each state's section for the book. In addition to trivia contests and prizes, the stores will be doing local outreach to children in grades three through six and inviting local officials and media. And Southwest Airlines has selected it as an in-flight family reading book, available to passengers on routes to 39 states.

Editor's Letter on View at HarperCollins

In conjunction with the publication of Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom, edited by Leonard S. Marcus (HarperCollins), the publisher has put together an exhibition of books, letters and sketches generated by legendary editor Ursula Nordstrom. The books chosen for viewing represent highlights from Nordstrom's tenure (1940-1973) as director of Harper's Department of Books for Boys and Girls. These include such classics as Goodnight Moon, The Giving Tree and Where the Wild Things Are. The exhibition will be displayed in HarperCollins's lobby, located at 10 E. 53rd St. in New York City. It runs through May 29; hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Lorax Forest Opens in South Carolina

Random House Children's Publishing, in association with Green Gems USA and American Forests, recently kicked off a program that invites kids to pay tribute to Dr. Seuss's environmentally concerned character, the Lorax, by planting a tree. The company began a two-month campaign, placing 500,000 postcards in kiosks across the country, requesting help in building up the Dr. Seuss Lorax Forest, located in South Carolina. By sending in $2.95, individual participants will have a tree planted in their name and receive a Lorax Helper Kit.

The Lorax Forest is part of American Forests's Global ReLeaf 2000 program, which replants damaged forest lands. Green Gems USA is coordinating kit requests and can be reached by phone (800-431-7645) or by e-mail.

Growing Healthy Babies

Back in February HarperCollins launched Harper Growing Tree, an imprint designed to encourage learning of basic skills and concepts during early childhood. To further enhance the Growing Tree program, the company is offering booksellers a Community Connections Kit. The kit contains a booklet with sections on nutrition, literacy, childcare, fitness and local resources throughout the country. In addition, another brochure offers age-specific tips on reading aloud and establishing a reading routine. Completing the package are a growth chart, event invitations, a prescription-for-reading pad, and a press announcement and ad slick to help stores round up the community in support of reading. All in all, it sounds like a healthy diet for growing children.

In Brief

Vera B. Williams has been named the first recipient of the Charlotte ZolotowAward for picture book text, awarded by the Cooperative Children's Book Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The award will be presented to the author-illustrator in October at the university's first annual Charlotte Zolotow lecture.