Literary agents are now assuming an even more active role in promoting children’s literacy and helping to ensure its future. Every Child a Reader, the charitable arm of the Children’s Book Council, which supports Children’s Book Week, Get Caught Reading, and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature program, has created the Literary Agent Circle of Sponsors, an industry-wide endeavor that partners these publishing professionals with ECAR’s major initiatives.
“Twenty-eight agencies have enthusiastically signed on so far,” said Carl Lennertz, executive director of ECAR and the Children’s Book Council. “Their donations will help us expand the reach of our three key programs and grow our efforts for book donations and against book bans. I’d also like to help address the drop in reading scores and what that means for authors and publishers in both the short and long term.”
Agents of Change
The Literary Agent Circle of Sponsors was spearheaded by audio publisher Tim Ditlow, who initially approached Lennertz with the idea, and literary agent Gail Hochman of Brandt & Hochman. After discussing the proposal, Ditlow and Hochman began making calls, sending emails, and reaching out to their colleagues.
“This new Circle of Sponsors gives agents—cornerstones of the publishing world—a meaningful seat at the table in supporting Every Child a Reader’s long-running literacy campaigns,” Ditlow said.
The desire to expand the Circle beyond the core network of literary agents is also on the agenda. “In talking with Tim and Carl, we realized we needed to include not just agents working in children’s books, but those representing adult authors as well,” Hochman said. “Reading at a young age is foundational. It supports success in school, in life and ultimately, in sustaining adult readership. Young readers become adult readers.”
Widening the Circle
Among those that have already signed onto the Literary Agent Circle of Sponsors are Curtis Brown Ltd. and Gallt & Zacker. “We’ve long stood with our authors in promoting literacy, access to stories, and opposing book bans, so we were thrilled when Tim and Gail reached out with this opportunity,” said Elizabeth Harding, VP at Curtis Brown.
“Book bans disproportionately hurt communities already marginalized and readers who need to see themselves in the pages of books,” said Marietta Zacker, co-owner of Gallt & Zacker Literary Agency. “Since at Gallt & Zacker we believe that encouraging reading for all is a moral imperative, we are delighted to support the efforts of ECAR.”
The initial round of funding will go toward the delivery of Keep Bans Off Our Books kits to 1,200 schools and libraries later this month—just in time for Banned Books Week (October 5 –11). Plans for supplying book donations to underfunded school libraries are also in discussion.
To learn more about the Literary Agent Circle of Sponsors or to get involved, contact Lennertz here.
