Words of Advice

We asked a number of industry veterans about the best piece of advice they received when first entering publishing, and what advice they have for those just starting out today.

CPSIA Update: Congressional Committee Holds Hearing on Implementation

The House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade held a hearing on February 17 called “A Review of CPSIA and CPSC Resources,” which examined the implementation and consequences of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act.

Harlequin Teen Tells (and Sells) a Modern Fairy Tale

Romance giant Harlequin Enterprises only ventured into the YA genre about 18 months ago with the launch of its Harlequin Teen line, but if its current campaign for author Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series is any indication, Harlequin and its teen readers are already pretty committed to each other.

The Week in Children's Apps: February 17, 2011

This week, Britain's Nosy Crow debuts its first iPad app with an interactive version of the Three Little Pigs; Eileen Christelow's "Five Little Monkeys" are jumping... to the app format; and a new app helps kids learn about the 50 states.

Scarletta to Launch Children's Line

Scarletta Press, a small press in Minneapolis best known for its nonfiction, is launching a children's fiction line this summer. The first title in the new line will be Lost in Lexicon: An Adventure in Words and Pictures by Pendred Noyce, illustrated by Joan Charles. The middle-grade fantasy novel will be released by Scarletta this August.

Sleeping Bear Press Moves in New Directions

Sleeping Bear Press, which launched in 1994 as a regional press, and morphed into a children's book publisher in 2000, is once again moving in a new direction. The Ann Arbor-based company, best known for its illustrated alphabet book series, is expanding into chapter books for emerging readers, as well as YA novels.

Bookseller Shirley Masengill Dies

Longtime children's bookseller Shirley Masengill, recipient of a Northern California Children's Booksellers' Association Otter Award for her unique role in bringing together children and books, died on February 12. She was 83.

Margaret K. McElderry Dies at 98

Legendary children's book editor and publisher Margaret K. McElderry died Monday. February 14, at the age of 98. In a 1997 New York Times profile, the Times's Eden Ross Lipson called McElderry "the last of her class of editors who brought American children's books into the postwar world."

Janet Schulman Dies at 77

Author, anthologist, and children's book publisher Janet Schulman died Friday, February 11, from complications due to lung cancer. She was 77. Schulman, who began her publishing career in 1959 at Macmillan, worked for more than 30 years at Random House, where, among other things, she was the last editor there to edit Dr. Seuss.

At Tools of Change, Former ABC Director Kristen McLean to Discuss New Venture, Bookigee

On February 15, McLean will make the first public presentation of her new company—Bookigee—at the Tools of Change Publishing Startup Showcase. Billed as an "innovative, visualizing discovery engine," Bookigee, McLean says, has set its sights on addressing a core issue for books and content in the digital age: discoverability.

BEA Children's Breakfast Speakers Announced

The speakers for the annual Children's Book and Author Breakfast at this year's BookExpo America convention have been announced. The breakfast will feature Brian Selznick, author of Wonderstruck (Scholastic); Sarah Dessen, author of What Happened to Goodbye (Viking); and Kevin Henkes, author of Little White Rabbit and Junonia (Greenwillow).

Licensing Hotline: February 2011

Viz Publishing is the U.S. master licensee for Mameshiba ("bean dog"), a hit property in Japan, for children's book formats. The program marks a departure for Viz in many ways. It is its first major branded children's line consisting of original titles—partners for additional programs will be announced soon—and the books will be in color.

Marketing Campaign Sheds Light on Dark Days

HarperCollins Children's Books recently launched The Dark Days of Supernatural, a six-month, six-figure marketing initiative promoting 11 new hardcover novels in the paranormal, dystopian, and supernatural romance genres.

New Socially Conscious Children’s Books Hit Market

This spring, Independent Publishers Group is introducing a new children's publisher to the U.S. children's book market: Cuento de Luz. The Spain-based eco-friendly company will debut its U.S. line in April with eight books in Spanish and six in English.

Kids Running the Store

From time to time bookstore owners are forced to turn to their kids for help, especially during the holidays, when there never seem to be enough booksellers. But last fall a group of teens and tweens contributed their time and expertise without being asked.

Missen to Head Up Children's Books at Penguin Canada

Penguin Canada has hired Lynne Missen as publishing director for its children's and young adult program, which the company plans to expand. "We’re definitely investing and expanding, and Lynne's hire is an indication of that," said Penguin Canada publisher Nicole Winstanley.

News Briefs: February 3

CPSC Extends Stay of Enforcement on CPSIA Testing

The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced on Tuesday that it would extend the stay of enforcement on total lead content in children's products, as dictated in section 102 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, until December 31, 2011. The vote was four to one, with Commissioner Robert Adler dissenting. The stay had been scheduled to expire on February 10.

Open Road to Publish Virginia Hamilton E-books

On February 15, Open Road Integrated Media will publish the first children’s titles in its “author branded program”: seven e-books by Newbery Medal and National Book Award winner Virginia Hamilton, who died in 2002. Among the e-books on the list are Newbery and NBA winner M.C. Higgins, the Great.