While the American Booksellers Association canceled the 8th annual Children’s Institute [7] due to the disruption of the COVID-19 outbreak, booksellers are invited to participate in a virtual program on July 15–16. Registration is open now. [8]

Programming will feature a day of education on July 15 that will include sessions on representation in young adult and middle grade sci-fi and fantasy titles and a talk on store voice, online sales, and profitability, as well as a presentation of the Indies Introduce debut titles for young readers, a keynote with author Isaac Fitzgerald, and a virtual hangout with colleagues. July 16 will feature programming dedicated to connecting with publishers. 

A special antiracism training with Cultures Connecting invites booksellers to explore “White Anti-Racist Allyship: What Is our Role in the Struggle? [9]” This workshop, to be facilitated by Ilsa Govan, focuses on the self-awareness, knowledge of historic and current racism, and skills necessary for White people to learn together. Although this session will center on the role of White people in work for racial justice, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are welcome to attend and participate in the conversation.

This session requires additional registration [10]; there is no fee to attend, though ABA requests a $40 refundable placeholding fee.

The virtual Children’s Institute is open to all ABA member booksellers and costs $20; visit BookWeb.org now to register [8].

Children’s Institute will resume in person on June 16–18, 2021, at the Westin La Paloma Resort & Spa in Tucson, Arizona. Questions about the institute should be directed to [email protected] [11].