Four years since their launch of a fall Children’s Book Week, the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader are preparing a full roster of new and improved activities to attract more teachers, along with librarians and booksellers, to this year’s programming. Slated for November 7-13, the annual event focused on promoting literacy in the classroom and at home has already garnered tremendous interest. “We are at 1,200 sign-ups in 50 states for the third year in a row, which is very exciting,” said executive director Carl Lennertz.

Below is a preview of next month’s Book Week lineup:

Posters for All. More participants will be able to showcase the annual Book Week poster, designed this year by illustrator Raúl the Third. In addition to the CBC sending five posters (up from two in previous years) to registrants, each venue that hosts a Raúl the Third-themed event in late October and early November will receive a box containing 350 posters for attendee distribution. As of press time, this includes Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville, Ill.; Once Upon a Time Bookstore in Montrose, Calif.; and the University of Findlay’s Mazza Museum in Findlay, Ohio. Posters are being shipped to the Boston Book Festival, the Virginia Children’s Book Festival, and to the 25th annual Rochester Book Festival on November 5, where the illustrator will make an appearance.

Voting for New Awards Categories. Following the 2021 relaunch of the Kids’ Book Choice Awards, this year’s roster includes new three categories: Favorite World Changer, Best Info Meets Graphic, and Favorite Character Crush. “It was always our intention to make some changes to these new awards categories, to keep things fresh and highlight specific genres and themes that kids are really invested in at the time,” explained associate executive director Shaina Birkhead. To help simplify the voting process, the CBC has finalized 12 categories in total (the Book of the Year and two additional grades per grade range). Online voting for the awards takes place on the Every Child a Reader site and runs through November 13.

Updated Activity Pages, Educator Kit. For the fifth consecutive year, the CBC will provide activity pages in both English and Spanish, and this year’s materials will spotlight Raúl the Third’s illustrations. Digital versions of the CBC’s #FREADOM coloring pages, which premiered this past summer, will be available for download all year long in support of the continued fight against censorship. In addition, an updated educator kit featuring new activities and prompts centered around the 2022 “How Do You Book?” theme will be provided to registrants.

Getting Social… and Recognized. The CBC will promote its social media campaign with the United States Postal Service, after having mailed thousands of Book Week posters using Title IX and The Giving Tree stamps. And at the conclusion of Book Week, I Am a Reader award certificates (printed on card stock) will be mailed out upon request. The CBC is also designing a special template enabling schools, libraries, and bookstores to add their logo and personalize these awards. “We want to extend the reach of the fun and celebration of Children’s Book Week long after the weeks themselves,” Lennertz said.