Just One More Book!!

Last week, in part one of a two-part series, I spoke with Jason Wells, Director of Marketing and Publicity for Harry N. Abrams Inc. about the role and career path of the publicist, the high turnover rate in the industry and the evolution of book marketing and publicity in the digital age.

On this edition of Just One More Book!!, part 2 of my conversation with Jason Wells. This time, we talk about digital marketing and publicity and the future of children’s books in the age of MySpace, Facebook, blogs and podcasts.

 

 Interview with Jason Wells (part 2 of 2) [14:20m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It takes a team — an author, illustrator, editor and publisher to name a few — to publish a children’s book. There’s still the matter of getting the word out.

On this edition of Just One More Book!!, Mark speaks with Jason Wells, Director of Marketing and Publicity for Harry N. Abrams Inc. in the first of a two-part series. In this part, Mark and Jason speak about the role and career path of the publicist, the high turnover rate in the industry and the evolution of book marketing and publicity in the digital age.

In part two of this series (due out on May 12), Mark and Jason speak about digital marketing and publicity in the age of MySpace, Facebook, blogs and podcasts.

 

 Interview with Jason Wells (part 1 of 2) [14:14m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

According to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, Character education involves teaching children about basic human values including honesty, kindness, generosity, courage, freedom, equality, and respect.

Sharron McElmeel is a leading expert in this field and she’s done just about everything including publishing a 220-page book called Character Education: A Book Guide for Teachers, Librarians and Parents.

As part of a discussion on character education and her other projects, Sharron McElmeel answers questions that help reveal some of her powerful advice which includes make your house a “book house”, include a book on every gift-giving occasion and we must all move out of our classrooms and living rooms to spread the joy of reading everywhere we can.

Links to Ms. McElmeel’s resources and books mentioned:

• Sharron McElmeel’s website
• McBookWords - a resource for schools, educators and librarians
• McBookWords blog
• Character Education: A Book Guide for Teachers, Librarians and Parents
• Authors in the Kitchen: Recipes, Stories and More
• Authors in the Pantry: Recipes, Stories and More

Children’s books mentioned:

• Where the Wild Things Are
• A Snowy Day
• Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel
• Value Tales Series
• Pink and Say
• Nail Soup
• Stone Soup
• The Gingerbread Boy
• A Ghost, a Witch and a Goblin

Photo: http://mcbookwords.blogspot.com/

 

 Interview with Sharron McElmeel [21:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

This episode comes to you from the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada, where a large group of people braved a moderate snowstorm to attend the launch of Before Green Gables, the prequel of Anne of Green Gables.

The book launch coincides with the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the introduction of Anne Shirley to the world. To mark the occasion, Canada Post has unveiled two new stamps (one for Anne Shirley and one for Prince Edward Island), the Royal Canadian Mint unveiled their new Anne Shirley quarter and Girl Guides of Canada have unveiled a new patch.

This episode of Just One More Book!! includes interviews with author Budge Wilson, editor Helen Reeves, LM granddaughter Kate Macdonald Butler, the Right and Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, LM Montgomery expert Betsy Epperly, publicist Alina Goldstein and the many voices of Anne Shirley enthusiasts.

Anne of Green Gables links

• 100 Years of Anne
• Anne of Green Gables on Wikipedia
• Lucy Maud Montgomery Institute

Excerpts of songs from the CD Your Daughters and Your Sons by The Duhks used with permission of Sugar Hill Records (Thank you, Molly!)

• Annabel
• Anna William’s Reel
• Crusty Rolls and Chili
• The Ol’ Yellow House

You can view some photos from the event here.

 

 Before Green Gables and 100 Years of Anne Shirley [21:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

January 27 is the ABC Canada Literacy Foundation’s Family Literacy Day; an event that celebrates and promotes literacy, with a family twist.

Across the country, libraries, schools, community centres, arts centres, and homes — maybe even your home — will be hosting events and reading children’s books. It’s a great excuse to read a book with your child, if you need one.

On this edition of Just One More Book, Mark speaks with Margaret Eaton, President of the ABC Canada Literacy Foundation about literacy and this year’s Family Literacy Day.

Authors mentioned:

• Robert Munsch

Mark refers in this interview to the following quote from a recent post on Jen Robinson’s Book Page. Jen wrote last January, in an article about a talk that Jen heard by read-aloud advocate Jim Trelease, that:

“He (Trelease) suggested that we need some sort of national campaign to inform people all over the country of the importance of exposing their kids to more words every day, and encouraging them to enjoy reading. He gave an analogy to the campaign that was used to successfully cut the incidence of smoking in this country by 50% over 40 years, a combination of informing people, scaring people, and insulting people, and thinks that we need to try something similar in American homes re: reading.”

More statistics and literacy tidbits referenced by Mark in this interview can be found here:

• New Data on Reading from the Miss Rumphius Effect blog
• Jim Trelease Talk: My Notes from Jen Robinson’s Book Page blog

Photo: ABC Canada

 

 Interview with Margaret Eaton about Family Literacy Day [14:15m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

There’s a feature of children’s books that’s often talked about, though a surprisingly high number of people are not willing to admit; you don’t have to be a child to enjoy one. In fact, you don’t even need to have a child to pick up a children’s book and read it.

Those who are in on that belief are passionate about children’s books in a way that’s near impossible to measure. Take, for example, Jen Robinson. In many ways, she’s redefining that passion. Her blog, Jen Robinson’s Book Page, is a showcase piece of the kidlitosphere, a community of bloggers and podcasters that promote children’s literacy, picture and young adult books and the people behind them.

On this edition of Just One More Book!, Mark speaks with Jen Robinson about her love of children’s books, the tools she uses to promote literacy and tackle literacy related issues, and a new children’s literature portal.

Photo: Jen Robinson’s Book Page

 

 Interview with Jen Robinson [14:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Not every child falls instantly in love with books. For many, reading is a struggle or maybe just not interesting. A greater concern is the child whose learning disability makes reading an unpleasant experience.

Our guest on this edition of Just One More Book is Whitney Hoffman, producer of the Learning Disabilities Podcast (LDPodcast.com), whose experiences with her childrens’ learning disabilities as well as her own ADD leads to fantastic discussions and suggestions. She also features interviews with leading experts on learning including recent interviews with Rick Lavoie and Nina Straightman.

 

 Interview with Whitney Hoffman [12:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Author and certified Readiologist(TM), Esme Raji Codell has so many children’s books in her collection that she and her husband decided to give the books their own home. The result is something Esme calls the Gingerbread Apartment of Planet Esme, the manifestation of the website PlanetEsme.com.

On this edition of Just One More Book, Mark speaks with Esme Raji Codell about Planet Esme, her efforts to help educate people about great children’s books, and her thoughts on what children’s books can do to change the world.

You can read more about The Gingerbread House of Planet Esme here. 

 

 Interview with Esme Raji Codell [9:19m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

The United States Library of Congress hosted its first National Book Festival in 2001. Thirty thousand people attended. On September 29, 2007, the date of the seventh edition of the festival, attendance exceeded one hundred twenty thousand.

In addition to the use of online tools and digital media, including podcasts, the National Book Festival is just one of many of the Library of Congress’ initiatives to promote literacy and a love of reading and writing.

On this edition of Just One More Book, Mark is joined by Matt Raymond, Director of Communications for the Library of Congress, to talk about the National Book Festival, the online Young Readers’ Toolkit, and the use of new media to promote literacy.

Links:

• National Book Festival
• National Book Festival Podcasts
• Young Readers’ Toolkit
• Library of Congress Blog
• Library of Congress Podcasts

National Book Festival poster image from the Library of Congress website.

 

 Interview with Matt Raymond of the Library of Congress [19:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

What do Junior Rangers, scientific facts, children’s books and military service have in common?

On this edition of Just One More Book, Lee German talks about the origins of Sylvan Dell Publishing, what makes their books unique, and how his wife provided the motivation and his military service the skills to become a children’s book publisher.

Participate in the conversation by leaving a comment on this interview, or send an email to justonemorebook@gmail.com.

Photo: SylvanDellPublishing.com

 

 Interview with Lee German [18:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

For some people, the enjoyment of reading books isn’t enough. Even writing books doesn’t fill the void. For them, they want to spread the love of books and the connections that they can create.

On this edition of Just One More Book, Mark speaks with Margriet Ruurs who says that what she likes most is getting children excited about reading good books. She’s certainly done her share to move that along. Besides writing children’s books including My Librarian is a Camel, Ms. Ruurs is the force behind three literacy initiatives:

• Adopt a Mobile Library
• A Book Marks Our World (email Margriet Ruurs)
• kidsWWWrite

Participate in the conversation by leaving a comment on this interview, or send an email to justonemorebook@gmail.com.

Photo: www.MargrietRuurs.com

 

 Interview with Margriet Ruurs [21:03m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Consider this statistic… 62% of less fortunate children do not have books in their homes. Does that inspire you to help out somehow? It did for sixteen-year-old Kyle Baldwin and his fourteen-year-old brother, Brady. In the spring of 2006, they started the My Own Book Foundation to bring top quality new books to less fortunate children. With the help of their mother, a local bookstore, some grants, publishers and a growing list of sponsors, they are working hard to spread the love of reading to other children.

Our guests on this edition of Just One More Book are Kyle and Brady Baldwin, the founders of My Own Book. You can find their website at myownbook.net.

Photo: MyOwnBook.net

 

 Interview with Kyle and Brady Baldwin of My Own Book [17:27m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download