Children's Lit Newsletter 3/26/2025
AKA Sharon's Book Rx
Collaborative Summer Library Program
HOW COOL IS THIS?!?!?!?!?
“Books change the world. And so can you.”
—Katherine Applegate, Collaborative Summer Library Program 2025 Summer Reading Champion
Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medalist and #1 New York Times-bestselling author, is the Collaborative Summer Library Program 2025 Summer Reading Champion!
This Summer, parents and guardians of budding storytellers ages 8-12 are invited to enter the Katherine Applegate Color Our World Writing Contest. Entries are open from June 1 – July 31, 2025.
Sign up to receive free promotional materials!
WRITING PROMPT
Your writing can change and color our world! Write a short story between 1,000 – 1,500 words about a character that takes an action that changes someone else’s day for the better. The action can be as small or grand as you’d like — even small acts can make a big difference!
Your story must have a catchy title, a protagonist that takes an action to make a change, and a beginning, middle, and end.
The contest will be judged by the Collaborative Summer Library Program, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Katherine Applegate. We’re on the lookout for a story that
Rules and Requirements: View Here
Privacy Notice: View Here
The grand prize winner will receive a virtual writing workshop with Katherine Applegate, signed copies of Willodeen, Crenshaw, Odder, and wishtree, and will receive a $500 of books for readers ages 8-12 from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Three runner-ups will receive a signed copies of Willodeen, Crenshaw, Odder, and wishtree.
ABBREVIATED RULES
No purchase necessary. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C. who are age 18 or older and of the legal age of majority. Entry period begins at 9:00 AM (ET) on 6/1/2025 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 7/31/2025. Void where prohibited. For full Official Rules, visit the following link. Sponsored by Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
Entries will open June 1st at 12:00am ET.
KATE DICAMILLO!!!!!!! AND, a FABULOUS follow up parent/child book club hosted by the WONDERFUL Summer Dawn Laurie
This event will be hosted in-person at Book Passage's Corte Madera Store. Please contact books@bookpassage.com with questions regarding events.
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Join us for a special event celebrating internationally acclaimed author Kate DiCamillo and her highly acclaimed works Ferris & Because of Winn-Dixie (20th Anniversary Edition).
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Book Passage will also host a special Parents and Kids Book Talk about Ferris on May 4, 2025. Kids between 9 and 12 years old are invited to bring an adult to discuss thoughts, feelings, and questions about the book after they've read it. Join us for this unique opportunity to experience a special first book group for kids!
https://www.bookpassage.com/event/kate-dicamillo-ferris-because-winn-dixie-corte-madera-store
The Bay Area Kids Booksellers group had a wonderful idea and we're thrilled to be participating. The idea? Asking customers to Be The Reason Indie bookstores like ours survive, thrive, and do a great job serving our customers and communities. We're kicking off our first version of that campaign by working with Access Books Bay Area to help refurbish a local public school's library and stock it with wonderful books.
DONATIONS ARE COMING IN, BUT MORE ARE NEEDED TO PUT TOGETHER A FABULOUS LIBRARY FOR THESE STUDENTS!!
To do that we need YOUR HELP! Please click here to Be The Reason Underserved Children Discover Joy in Reading by purchasing gift cards that can be used to stock the library!
The overall purpose of the Be The Reason campaign is to encourage folks to support their local indie bookstores. We'll be honest and say that it isn't easy being green, and indie, and queer, and focusing on peacemaking, social justice, and inclusion, and competing against they who shall not be named at a time when just about everything we stand for feels like it is under attack (by HE who shall not be named and his minions).
We would NOT keep doing this without you, our partners in peacemaking. Below are links to several ways you can help US thrive as a business so that we can continue to serve you, our community, and the world.
Laurie Halse Anderson Sweepstakes Enter for a chance to win a collection of books by New York Times bestselling author Laurie Halse Anderson!
Join us Saturday, March 29 10am for a joyful celebration of diversity, inclusion, and storytelling! Our Drag Story Hour features uplifting stories that inspire kindness, acceptance, and belonging. Geared toward elementary-age children but open to all, this event will include engaging story time, a fun craft, and delicious snacks. Come share in a space of joy, learning, and community! We will meet in the sanctuary of First Presbyterian Church Palo Alto, 1140 Cowper Street, Palo Alto, CA 94301. Parking is available along Cowper Street and in the church parking lot off Lincoln.
TWO CHANCES TO SEE BRIAN SELZNICK AND DAVID LEVITHAN!!!
April 14 at Kepler's
https://www.keplers.org/upcoming-events-internal/brian-selznick
April 16th at the Bicycling Hall of Fame (event sponsored by Avid Books)
https://avidreaderbooks.com/events/2072420250416
About Brian Selznick
Brian Selznick’s books have sold millions of copies, garnered countless awards worldwide, and been translated into more than 35 languages. He broke open the novel form with his innovative and genre-defying thematic trilogy, beginning with the Caldecott Medal-winning #1 New York Times bestseller The Invention of Hugo Cabret, adapted into Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning movie Hugo. He followed that with the #1 New York Times bestseller, Wonderstruck, adapted into the eponymous movie by celebrated filmmaker Todd Haynes, with a screenplay by Selznick, and the New York Times bestseller, The Marvels. Selznick’s two most recent books for young people, Baby Monkey, Private Eye, an ALA Notable Book co-written with his husband David Serlin, and Kaleidoscope, a New York Times Notable Children’s Book of 2021, were both New York Times bestsellers as well. He also illustrated the 20th anniversary edition covers of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Selznick and Serlin divide their time between Brooklyn, New York and La Jolla, California. Learn more at thebrianselznick.com and mediaroom.scholastic.com/brianselznick.
About David Levithan
David Levithan is a children’s book editor in New York City and the author of several books for young adults, including Boy Meets Boy, Love Is the Higher Law, and Every Day. He coauthored Will Grayson, Will Grayson with John Green, and Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Dash & Lily’s Book of Dares, and Naomi and Ely’s No Kiss List with Rachel Cohn.
About the Book
Run Away With Me is a stunning creation, weaving words and illustration to tell the story of a transformative love. Danny is sixteen and spending his summer in Rome. As his mother works all day in a mysterious museum, he wanders the city's ancient, streets. Then one day a voice calls to him, and a strange, beautiful boy steps into his life. Angelo. Soon Danny is in love for the first time, but he's also painfully aware that when the summer ends, he'll have to return to America. Angelo seems to know all of Rome's twisting corners and hidden histories . . . even as he holds his own secrets just out of Danny's reach.
GAME NIGHT
More info here
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE A CBC FAVORITES COORDINATOR? The CBC will provide a Favorites Local Coordinator Handbook, and we will host Zoom orientation calls in August. You will also receive continuous communication from the CBC by email regarding book shipping, materials to use, and upcoming deadlines. We welcome previous coordinators to apply again. If chosen, you will be asked to serve as mentors to new coordinators at orientation. In appreciation of the work this will take, your location may keep 90% of the books. We ask that 10% of the books be donated to a local charity or community organization of your choosing. We will gather that information from you at the end of the program. If you are chosen to be a coordinator, you will be contacted in June. Thank you for taking the time to apply and for all you do every day. This is a significant undertaking by the local coordinators, CBC staff, and the publishers. It’s great fun for young people, teachers, and librarians to be part of a national reading and voting campaign. Email sommer.wissner@cbcbooks.org with any questions about this application and process.
APPLY HERE: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexl4CXRWZtkb47XRvdkHuCeNAgkt3PRSuUqUnk9gXXBaphFw/viewform
Please return form by April 4
GREAT CAUSE, OUTSTANDING FILM!!!!!!!
OFFSITE & TICKETED EVENT: With book bans skyrocketing across the country, let’s celebrate the value of children’s books by supporting our local public school libraries together.
Children’s books are often one of the first moments that allow children to dive deep into their imaginations. Come celebrate the impact of children’s books with a benefit screening of a new documentary “Story & Pictures By” followed by a discussion with filmmaker Joanna Rudnick.
“Story & Pictures By” is the first feature documentary to take audiences behind the scenes to meet the authors and artists who create children’s books. Following bestselling authors Christian Robinson (Last Stop on Market Street), Yuyi Morales (Dreamers), and Mac Barnett (Sam & Dave Dig a Hole), as well as highlighting perennial favorites such as Goodnight Moon, Snowy Day and Where the Wild Things Are, the film shows how children’s books reflect the mysteries of childhood, champion the marginalized, and provide children with windows and mirrors into their own lives.
Film Trailer: https://vimeo.com/925152924
This ticketed event will take place at the Santa Cruz High School Auditorium | 415 Walnut Avenue, Santa Cruz, CA 95060.
BUY TICKETS HERE: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/bookshopsantacruz/1602607
This event will feature a film screening (Run Time: 1 hour, 24 minutes) + 20-minute conversation with the filmmaker
100% of the proceeds of every ticket will be used to buy children’s books from Bookshop Santa Cruz for Santa Cruz County Schools Public Libraries. The first 50 teachers who buy tickets will receive a free tote bag filled with literary goodies!
“This film beautifully captures the magic of children's books and the creative minds behind them. A must-see for anyone who cherishes the joy of storytelling—whether you’re a child at heart or have little readers in your life.”
—Barbara J. Lawrence, Library Media Teacher at Gault Elementary School
We are being bombarded with bad, and badder, news from those who are 'running' our country. They are actively trying to destroy all that is good about the United Statesv (there's plenty that is bad, they're doubling down on that). But WE ARE NOT HELPLESS! There are many things, large and small, that we can do.
That's why I love this very positive graphic from the incredible Elly Swartz who says she is "inspired by the Book Warriors in life and in Same Page "
If you haven't read SAME PAGE, you have a treat in store. VERY inspiring, a great read!! You can check out more about Elly Swartz here: www.ellyswartz.com
Let Kids Read: Anti-Bias, LGBTQ+, and Gender Inclusive Professional Development
ENTER YOUR SCHOOL TO WIN A FREE WELCOMING SCHOOLS TRAINING!
We’re so excited to bring back the Welcoming Schools Training: Let Kids Read Training Grant. Looking for Anti-Bias, LGBTQ+ and gender inclusive professional development training? Penguin Young Readers and Random House Children’s Books are sponsoring school trainings from the Human Rights Campaign's Welcoming Schools program for FIVE Title 1 schools! Apply by March 30, 2025. Welcoming Schools Professional Development trainings are designed for the entire staff and are two hours in length.
NOTE: This Grant is Exclusively for Title 1 or Title 1 Equivalent Schools
Note: Please ensure you have prior approval from your school leader before submitting this form.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfJ4bG6X-CrBm48LEF1lXtf1F0lNTs6EQVuRkNPt6sKNrQAGw/viewform
I LOVE these choices!!! I feel like NOT NOTHING was overlooked this year and it is an INCREDIBLE book!!!!
FREE OGILVY POSTER
BOOK TALKS (for adults or kids), CURRICULUM CONSULTING (finding books that fit), etc.
Hey all!!
Recently I have given Book Talks to students and parents that can focus on Engaging Reluctant Readers, Diversify Your (home or school) Bookshelves, and Great and Engaging Books (for various ages/grades). They've been well received and participants leave with TONS of information (and quite a few win prizes). I do these in schools or libraries, but would love to be hired by companies as a 'Perk' for their employees who have children in their lives. So, using my 'Social Capital' (that's you all) to spread the word.
I also work with teachers to help find great books that fit (and expand) the curriculum (otherwise known as my idea of a good time).
Please feel free to spread the word and send people my way: sharonlevin @ mindspring.com
We now return to our regular programming.
NOTE TO AUTHORS, ILLUSTRATORS, BOOKSTORES HAVING EVENTS!!
I try (when I have time/energy/spoons) to visit store websites and pull event information. However, the best way to get your events in is to e-mail me directly with FOR THE NEWSLETTER as the subject line. There are over 2000 subscribers to this newsletter - plus it gets posted on Facebook, Twitter (I said what I said), BlueSky and my local NextDoor. I am happy to spread the word, it's just easier if 'the word' (not the religious one) comes directly to my inbox
I'm only as good as my sources, so please do feel free to share events, good news, etc.! Please e-mail me at sharonlevin at mindspring dot com and put For the Newsletter as your subject line.
I'm always happy to feature giveaways. There is NO paid advertising in this newsletter - I do not require anything to feature a giveaway. I'm just happy to do it.