History

Children’s Book Week originated in the belief that children’s books and literacy are life-changers. In 1913, Franklin K. Matthiews, the librarian of the Boy Scouts of America, began touring the country to promote higher standards in children’s books. He proposed creating a Children’s Book Week, which would be supported by all interested groups: publishers, booksellers, and librarians.

Mathiews enlisted two important allies: Frederic G. Melcher, the visionary editor of Publishers Weekly who believed that “a great nation is a reading nation,” and Anne Carroll Moore, the Superintendent of Children’s Works at the New York Public Library and a major figure in the library world. With the help of Melcher and Moore, in 1916, the American Booksellers Association and the American Library Association sponsored a Good Book Week with the Boy Scouts of America.

In 1944, the newly-established Children’s Book Council (CBC) assumed responsibility for administering Children’s Book Week. In 2008, Children’s Book Week moved from November to May. At that time, the administration of Children’s Book Week, including planning official events and creating original materials, was transferred to Every Child a Reader, CBC’s charitable arm.

Source: everychildareader.net 

2019 Children’s Book Week Highlights:

• Great collaborations coming. What to expect?

• Official poster, with activities, illustrated by award-winner Yuyi Morales and inspired by the 2019 slogan, Read Now ● Read Forever. Free posters will be available at all events.

• Spokesperson for the 100th anniversary of Children’s Book Week, Ayesha Curry.
• An original twelve-artist collaborative poster, to be revealed in stages throughout 2019, with some of the biggest children’s books illustrators.
• Exclusive new bookmarks by six prominent children’s book illustrators.
• In collaboration with The Rabbit Hole in Kansas City, the creation of an immersive narrative exhibit featuring six Children’s Book Week posters.
• A new Children’s Book Graphic Novel Activity Kit featuring art from children’s graphic novel creators.
• The Anna Dewdney Read Together Award, a picture book prize in honor of the late author and illustrator.
• Reformatted Children’s and Teen Choice Book Awards and voting through Book Week.
• Downloadable event and voting kits , press release templates, and more Media Tools.