Children’s Book Art Online Auction Underway

The Annual Children’s Book Art Online Auction  began  Saturday, May 18, at 9:00 a.m. EDT and runs through Friday, May 24 at 9:00 p.m. EDT at myworld.ebay.com/abffe. The auction is open to the public and enables those outside the book industry to both participate in the fight against the censorship of books for young readers and bid on great art.

Leading children’s book illustrators whose art is featured include Sophie Blackall, Frank Dormer, Nathan Hale, Tad Hills, Jeremy Holmes, Daniel Kirk, Helen Lester, Betsy Lewin, Ted Lewin, Jeff Mack, Bob Shea, Meilo So, Rosemary Wells, and many more. A preview of the online art can be found here.

To help stores promote the online auction to customers, a printable/downloadable PDF version of a flier has been created in two sizes: 8.5" x 11" (portrait) and 5.5" x 8.5" (portrait). Ideas for promoting the online auction to customers can be found here.

The online auction is a component of the Annual Children’s Books Art Silent Auction at BookExpo America to be held on Wednesday, May 29, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Javits Convention Center. Many of the industry’s leading illustrators have not only donated art to the auction, but are also planning to attend. And thanks to the Estate of Maurice Sendak, all auction participants will have the rare opportunity to bid on an original, signed Maurice Sendak sketch during the live portion of the auction. Get your tickets now.

Proceeds from both auctions support the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression’s defense of the free speech rights of young readers. ABFFE is a co-founder of the Kids’ Right to Read Project (KRRP) and a principal sponsor of Banned Books Week, the only national celebration of the freedom to read. The auctions are presented by ABFFE and the ABC Children’s Group at ABA.

Volunteer opportunities to work the auction at BEA are still available; contact Kristen Gilligan Vlahos for details and to sign up.

For more information about both auctions and to preview all of the art, visit the auction website.