HBG Launches ‘Raising Readers’ Initiative

Citing recent studies by the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Center for Education Statistics about the decline of children reading for pleasure compared to previous generations, David Shelley, CEO of Hachette Book Group and Hachette UK, has announced the launch of a new initiative, called "Raising Readers," in a letter to HBG authors, illustrators, and translators. He noted that Raising Readers is the brainchild of Megan Tingley, president and publisher of Little, Brown Books for Young Readers.

"We’re launching a new venture next year which is relatively simple but hopefully will have some efficacy: Raising Readers, which is to include a page at the back of many of our black-and-white adult books, talking about the value of fostering a lifelong habit of reading for pleasure and tips on how to do so," wrote Shelley. "Ideally, this letter would be signed by whoever created the book, either based on a template we’ll provide or in your own words."

"Of course, you don’t have to be included in this venture," Shelley continued, "and everyone can opt into it. It’s purely voluntary but my hope is that many of you will want to engage. If you would like to be involved please just click here [hyperlink] to sign up…it will only take a few seconds. We’ll follow up with everyone who signs up in the new year with more details."

Shelley added that, in addition to the Raising Readers initiative, HBG would be "stepping up our partnership with literacy charities in all our geographies; continuing to legally oppose attempted book bans in the US and elsewhere; and to support the creation of school libraries everywhere."