Off the Shelf to Interview Ci4 Backlist Book Swappers

During the ABC Children’s Institute Welcome Reception and Backlist Book Swap Party, participants will have the chance to hand-sell their favorite backlist kids’ book in front of the camera through on-the-street-style interviews for Off the Shelf, a website and newsletter created by book business insiders to help readers discover their next books.

Lucille Rettino, vice president and director of marketing for the Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Group, will serve as the special children’s book correspondent for Off the Shelf, which is owned by S&S.

Off the Shelf filmed a variety of booksellers and industry professionals sharing their picks at the inaugural Backlist Book Swap, held at Winter Institute 2016; a video compilation of Book Swap interviews is available on YouTube.

In addition to sharing their picks through interviews with Off the Shelf, participants can document the festive Book Swap by snapping photos of themselves and colleagues in an old-school photo booth. (See all the snapshots from the Winter Institute Backlist Book Swap photo booth here.)

Anyone attending Children’s Institute is invited to participate in the Backlist Book Swap, including booksellers, publishers, and guests. Those planning to participate should let ABA know now which favorite kids’ book they’ll be swapping. Titles can include board books, young adult novels, or anything in between, so long as they are at least five years old and still in print.

Before heading to Children’s Institute, participants should be sure to pack their book as well as a bookmark, which will serve as a way for Book Swappers to make connections at the event. Booksellers should bring a store bookmark; generic bookmarks will be available on-site.

On the bookmark, the giver will write the book’s title and a blurb about why they selected that particular book to share, as well as their name, business name, and an e-mail address or phone number. The recipient of the book will be encouraged to reach out to the giver via phone or e-mail while at the reception.

Book Swap attendees will also have the opportunity to browse and take home galleys of several Revisit & Rediscover selections from the Summer 2016 Kids’ Indie Next List, including picks for ages 4–8, 9–12, and teens.

Following the Children’s Institute, ABA will supply a full list of the books shared at the Backlist Book Swap, along with information about who brought each title.

The Welcome Reception and Backlist Book Swap Party kicks off the institute on Tuesday, June 21, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Key Ballroom at the Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive.

Registration for Children’s Institute is now closed. Registrants who are no longer planning to attend Children’s Institute are asked to notify ABA as soon as possible. To cancel an event registration or hotel reservations, or for any questions regarding Children’s Institute, e-mail [email protected].

Ci4 is made possible by the support of lead sponsor Baker & Taylor with additional support from publisher sponsors large and small.