Children’s Bookselling

List of states where Amazon collects sales tax grows; Kate DiCamillo named National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature; Authors Guild files appeal

Registration for ABA’s second Children’s Institute will open next Thursday, January 9. The full-day education program, sponsored by Baker & Taylor, will be held on Monday, April 7, in San Antonio, Texas, and is open to all ABA member booksellers.

Bestselling author James Patterson, who has been a strong advocate of both children’s literacy and independent bookstores, has announced a new addition to his successful Book Bucks program: the First Annual Winter Book Bucks.

The Women’s National Book Association has announced January 10 as the new deadline for customers, sales reps, store personnel, or anyone else who is impressed with the work of a particular children’s specialty or general interest independent bookstore to submit nominations for the 2014 WNBA Pannell Award.

Cristin Terrill, author of the debut YA novel All Our Yesterdays, believes that it is important for everyone to be able to see themselves and their experiences reflected back at them through art and entertainment, “and that probably goes double for teenagers,” she said.

Kobo has launched a Daily Deal campaign that offers customers a deep discount on a new title each day. Since the link to the Daily Deal will remain the same every day, there’s not a lot of work involved for booksellers.

Tone Almhjell’s debut novel for middle-graders is The Twistrose Key. Here, she talks about being inspired by her Norwegian homeland, favorite authors, and more.

The Holiday Children’s Book Art Auction, sponsored by ABFFE and the ABC Children’s Group at ABA, closed on Tuesday afternoon, but not before hitting a new high and raising more than $10,000 to help defend the free speech rights of kids.

“I wanted to write a book that I thought my students would like, one that was structured and formatted in a way that would entice struggling readers, and one that was as true to their lives as I could make it,” says Patrick Flores-Scott, author of the debut Young Adult novel Jumped In.

YA literature is important, said Amy Christine Parker, author of the debut novel Gated, because if it’s done well, “it depicts teens as they really are ... and makes teens feel known in a way that adult books don’t.”

This week, ABA welcomed Matthew Zoni as the new ABC Children’s Group Manager. Zoni comes to the association with more than a decade of bookselling experience and a passion for children’s literature.

The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression is urging booksellers, artists, and other supporters of the free speech rights of kids to help promote its latest auction of children’s book art.

The Women’s National Book Association is seeking nominations for its 2014 WNBA Pannell Award, presented annually to a general bookstore and to a children’s specialty store for enhancing their communities by employing exceptional creativity in fostering a love of reading in their young patrons.

Sara Farizan hopes readers will see her debut YA novel, If You Could Be Mine, as both a love story and a story about finding yourself and being true to who you are, even when that seems really terrifying.

Judge dismisses Google e-book scanning case; PEN report shows authors self-censoring due to surveillance; World Book Night donates to Operation Gratitude; Survey shows early holiday shopping among Americans; SCBWI creates The Spark Award; Gaiman’s Neverwhere returned to classrooms; Frommer’s returns due to Wiley by December 15; Ingram Publisher Services to distribute for Indiana University Press