Picture Book Month: Read! Share! Celebrate!

“Introducing them at a young age to the imaginary world of literature can plant the seed for a lifetime of exploration and investigation.” – Mercer Mayer from his Picture Book Month Essay

                It’s time! Around the world, schools, libraries, booksellers, and book lovers are coming together to celebrate print picture books throughout the month of November. Now in its third year, the initiative is a viral phenomenon and was even featured on Oprah.com. Thousands joined the celebration creating Picture Book Month events across the United States as well as in Australia, Hungary, India, Jamaica, the Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. Bloggers came together and wrote about their favorite picture books using the daily themes on the Picture Book Month Calendar created by Elizabeth O. Dulemba. A school in Budapest, Hungary read over 6,000 picture books during the 2012 Picture Book Month!

                The website, PictureBookMonth.com, features essays from thought leaders in the children’s literature community. Each day in November, a new essay is posted. This year’s Picture Book Month Champions are: David Adler, Dianna Aston, Rick Anderson, Larry Dane Brimner, Julie Danielson, Carmen Agra Deedy, Tomie dePaola, Emma Walton Hamilton, Rebecca Emberly, Sue Fliess, Zarah Gagatiga, Candace Fleming, Lee Harper, Jannie Ho, Steve Jenkins, Daniel Kirk, Jesse Klausmeier, Mercer Mayer, Bobbi Miller, Wendell Minor, Hazel G. Mitchell, Jerry Pinkney, Robert Quackenbush, April Pulley Sayre, Rob Scotton, Laura Vaccaro Seeger, Michael Shoulders, Wendi Silvano, Heidi Stemple, and Rosemary Wells.

                Support for the initiative continues with partners such as the American Booksellers Association, the American Association of School, the Children’s Book Council, Reading is Fundamental, and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators as well as industry trade journals such as Hornbook and School Library Journal. A downloadable promotional kit is available as well as certificates, posters, and bookmarks created by Joyce Wan. Brain Burps About Books Podcast, the #1 kidlit podcast on iTunes, is dedicating the entire month of November to Picture Book Month. Picture Book Month even has a new Teacher Guide created by Marcie Colleen.

                Founder Dianne de Las Casas says, “We’ve had a record number of registrations this year. I know it’s going to be an exciting celebration!”

                Join the celebration! Visit www.picturebookmonth.com.

“A childhood is enriched by the memories that reside within the covers of a favourite book.” – Rob Scotton from his Picture Book Month Essay

“Celebrate the magic that happens when words and pictures come together to tell you a story.” – Rebecca Emberley from her Picture Book Month Essay