The Children’s Book Council turns to the Web to promote this year’s Children’s Book Week, which will take place May 11—17. Here are a few highlights of its virtual campaign, as well as information on some of the planned Children’s Book Week events.
• Children’s Choice Book Awards Widget. To solicit votes for the second annual Children’s Choice Book Awards, the CBC and Every Child a Reader have again teamed up with JacketFlap.com to produce a Children’s Choice Book Awards widget (for those not in the know, a widget is a program embedded into a Web page or blog). Whenever the widget loads, a cover from one of the 30 finalists appears on screen and also links to the Book Week Web site, with further information on the finalists and how to vote (kids can vote until May 3). The CBC hopes that this year’s widget will be as successful as it was last year, when it attracted over 500,000 viewers. Those interested in adding the Children’s Choice Book Awards Widget to a Web site or blog can do so here.
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| The 2009 Children's Book Week Poster, created by Ian Falconer. |
• Digital Toolkit. A digital toolkit, aimed at teachers, librarians and booksellers, provides suggestions for celebrating Children’s Book Week, as well as advice on how to hold a “Book Week Party,” “Read-In,” or “Book Exchange Day.” It can be downloaded at the Book Week Web site. A bookmark, illustrated by artist Dan Yaccarino, is also available for download, and a free Children’s Book Week 2009 poster created by Ian Falconer (of Olivia fame) may be ordered by mail. Links to “Story Starters,” or the first few lines of stories written by children’s book authors, are also available on that site, for teachers to use with students.|
• Finally, here’s a line-up of some of the events planned for Children’s Book Week:
Saturday, May 9
Bryant Park Kick-Off. The fun begins in New York City’s Bryant Park with
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| The Children's Book Week widget. |
the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Jon Scieszka, appearing with nine authors and illustrators.
Tuesday, May 12
Children’s Choice Book Awards Gala. The Children’s Choice Book Awards will be announced at the Edison Ballroom in Manhattan. Winners will also be announced on the Children’s Book Week Web site.
Thursday, May 14
Children’s Book Week in Seattle and Olympia, Wash. Scieszka will visit Washington State in honor of Children’s Book Week.
Saturday, May 16
Children’s Book Week in Boston. The Massachusetts Center for the Book and Boston Public Library will team up for concluding activities in Boston’s Copley Square.
