Campaign to end gender-specific children's books gathers high-profile publishing support

Waterstones, children's laureate Malorie Blackman, poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy and Phillip Pullman among supportersA national campaign to stop children's books being labelled as "for boys" or "for girls" has won the support of Britain's largest specialist bookseller Waterstones, as well as children's laureate Malorie Blackman, poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy, Philip Pullman and a handful of publishers.The Let Books Be Books campaign seeks to put pressure on retailers and publishers not to market children's books that promote "limiting gender stereotypes".In the week since its launch it has been backed by publishers Parragon and Usborne, as well as authors including Ros Asquith, Mary Hoffman, Eileen Browne, Pippa Goodhart, Laura Dockrill, James Dawson, Harriet Evans and the former children's laureate Anne Fine.A petition calling on children's publishers to "stop labelling books, in the title or on the packaging, as for girls or for boys" because "telling children which stories and activities are 'for them' based on their gender closes down whole worlds of interest," has passed 3,000 signatures.The move is the latest project from the Let Toys Be Toys campaign which objects to gender stereotyping of children's toys. It has convinced 13 retailers so far to not market toys based on gender.Pullman, author of the His Dark Materials fantasy trilogy said: "I'm against anything, from age-ranging to pinking and blueing, whose effect is to shut the door in the face of children who... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2014-03-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
News tagged with: #early years #work directly

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Campaign to end gender-specific children's books gathers high-profile publishing support'

Appreciation: Sylvère Lotringer made book publishing safe for dangerous ideas

'Never give people what they want, or they'll hate you for it,' said Lotringer, founder of the influential publisher Semiotext(e), who died last week. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-11-18 14:30:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #give people #book publishing

Julia Fine: Ghosts of Rebel Children’s Book Authors

The author of The Upstairs House on postpartum depression, hauntings, and the legacy of Margaret Wise Brown. Continue reading at Guernica

[ Guernica | 2021-11-18 03:45:32 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book authors #children’s book

Sheikh Zayed Book Award Longlists: Young Author and Children’s Literature

Based in Abu Dhabi, the Sheikh Zayed Book Award releases the first two of its eight longlists showcasing Arabic literature, scholarship, and writing. The post Sheikh Zayed Book Award Longlists: Young Author and Children’s Literature appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-18 01:57:08 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #literature appeared #young author #abu dhabi #zayed book

John Lewis sued by self-published children’s author over Christmas ad

Fay Evans alleges a ‘striking similarity’ between the 2019 Excitable Edgar TV campaign and her 2017 book Fred the Fire-Sneezing DragonThe author of a self-published children’s book about a dragon that causes havoc with its fiery sneezes is suing John Lewis over its 2019 Christmas ad about a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-11-16 14:46:45 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #christmas ad #picture book #trouble-making dragon #fire-sneezing dragon #self-published children #striking similarity #john lewis #children’s book

Amazon Publishing’s Eoin Purcell: ‘Surprise Books’ and Other Pandemic Effects

Ongoing pandemic market conditions for Amazon Publishing in London, Eoin Purcell says, reflect 'intensity' in entertainment consumption. The post Amazon Publishing’s Eoin Purcell: ‘Surprise Books’ and Other Pandemic Effects appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-15 15:50:12 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #eoin purcell #amazon publishing

Goth-rock queen PJ Harvey is publishing a book-length narrative poem that took six years to write.

PJ Harvey is trying her hand at poetry again. In April 2022, Picador Poetry in the UK will publish the hardcover edition of Orlam, Harvey’s book-length narrative poem. A special collector’s edition featuring the musician’s original artwork will follow in October 2022. The long-form poem, which... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-11-12 18:12:55 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #original artwork #picador

Publishers Collaborate on Holiday Marketing Campaign

Workman Publishing Co., Abrams Books, Bloomsbury Publishing, Candlewick Press, Chronicle Books, and Sourcebooks have partnered on Shop Local Forever, a consumer-focused marketing campaign to promote holiday book sales. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-12 05:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #workman publishing #abrams books #bloomsbury publishing #candlewick press #chronicle books #bloomsbury

Ant & Dec release first children's book with Farshore to raise money for NSPCC

TV hosts Ant & Dec, a.k.a. Anthony McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, are releasing their debut children's book next year to raise money for the NSPCC. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-09 13:59:39 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #debut children #raise money #declan donnelly #children's book

Shanghai International Children's Book Fair postponed until March 2022 due to Covid

The Shanghai International Children's Book Fair (CCBF) has been postponed from this month to March 2022 because of the situation with Covid-19 in China and will now coincide with the Bologna Children's Book Fair (BCBF). Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-09 00:00:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bologna children #children's book

Authors Guild doubles down on support of antitrust suit against publisher mega-merger

The Authors Guild likes what it sees in the federal antitrust suit aiming to block the $2 billion merger of Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster. Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2021-11-05 22:15:11 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #antitrust suit #simon schuster #penguin random house #authors guild

A few ideas for how TV shows about book publishing could include more Lit Hub.

I’ve recently been enjoying season two of the HBO Max series Love Life. I enjoyed season one because it felt like a combination of an extended rom-com and listening to someone talk about their first dates, two genres I enjoy. Season two is even better, because it stars William Jackson Harper... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-11-05 19:27:36 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #tv shows #lit hub #book publishing

Report shows fourfold rise in minority ethnic characters in UK children’s books

The Centre for Literacy in Primary Education welcomes steep increase in representation, but warns there are ‘no quick fixes’The proportion of children’s books featuring a minority ethnic character has almost quadrupled in the last four years, according to a new survey – but researchers say “we... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2021-11-04 14:36:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #books featuring #picture books #quick fixes

US files antitrust suit to stop major book publisher merger

The Justice Department is suing to block a $2.2 billion book publishing deal that would have reshaped the industry Continue reading at ABC News

[ ABC News | 2021-11-02 21:39:48 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #justice department #book publishing

12 Must-Read November Children’s Book Releases

From new books by Jason Reynolds and Andrea Beaty to powerful books about Black history, November children's book releases have lots of gems! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-11-02 10:35:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book releases #jason reynolds #andrea beaty #black history #november children #children's book #children’s book

Lawyers Argue that E-book Price-Fixing Case Against Amazon, Big Five Publishers Should Proceed

In a lengthy opposition brief filed this week, lawyers for a potential consumer class portrayed their case as the second act of the Apple e-books case and insisted there is more than enough evidence for the case to proceed. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-11-02 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #e-book

Polish Business Book Publisher Looks for Foreign Expansion

The focus of Poland's MT Biznes is on small companies' needs. A title the house has translated for sales in the UK has gone well. The post Polish Business Book Publisher Looks for Foreign Expansion appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-11-01 15:41:51 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book publisher

UK publishers donate 10,000 books to restock Mosul library after ISIS attack

UK publishers have donated more than 10,000 books through Book Aid International to the University of Mosul Library since it was destroyed by an ISIS attack. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-31 21:55:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #uk publishers #book aid

Next Stop After Frankfurt Book Fair: Sharjah’s Publishers’ Conference

Some 520 publishing professionals are traveling to the UAE for the 40th Sharjah International Book Fair and its Publishers' Conference. The post Next Stop After Frankfurt Book Fair: Sharjah’s Publishers’ Conference appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-10-28 14:20:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #conference appeared

Did you know that Sylvia Plath wrote a rhyming children’s book about silly beds?

Sylvia Plath was born 89 years ago today. A published writer from age at, she left behind a vast catalogue of poetry and prose, especially given her short life. One of her most charming works was a rhyming children’s book written in 1959 (before either of her children were born) and published in... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-10-27 17:44:35 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book written #sylvia plath #vast catalogue #short life #children’s book