Reed Exhibitions, the organizer of BookExpo and BookCon, has taken on the role of official sponsor of Children’s Book Week 2019. Reed’s donation to Every Child a Reader—the charitable arm of the Children’s Book Council, and the organization behind the national literacy initiative—will support the printing of 125,000 Book Week posters, which will be distributed to children and teens at 1,000 schools, libraries, and bookstores at more than 2,500 events held nationwide from April 29 to May 5, 2019, during the centennial celebration of Children’s Book Week.
The 100th anniversary poster by Caldecott Honor artist Yuyi Morales (Dreamers) will feature the 2019 theme, “Read Now. Read Forever,” as well as the BookCon logo. New online materials will include activity pages in more than 15 languages and original bookmarks.
Jennifer Martin, event manager for BookExpo, said in a statement, “Every Child a Reader is a cause that Reed is proud to support. We know that by helping children find the joy in reading now we can inspire lifelong readers, and we are excited to work towards this goal with the Children’s Book Council in 2019.”
Carl Lennertz, executive director of Every Child a Reader and the Children’s Book Council, said, “I cannot think of a more natural and strategic partner than Reed. We share the same dual mission: to promote the joy of reading by children and teens and to support all the teachers, librarians, booksellers, educators, and parents across the country who do so much every day in this cause. Books change lives, and with Reed’s generous support, we will continue to change many more.”
In addition to poster printing and distribution, Reed and Every Child a Reader will partner in promoting the Annual Silent Art Auction at BookExpo, held in conjunction with the American Booksellers Association; organizing author and illustrator events at BookCon’s Family HQ, with the support of the Children’s Book Council’s member publishers; and arranging Reed staff visits to schools.
