And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell,
illustrated by Henry Cole (S&S) was the most challenged book in
2006, according to the American Library Association, the AP (via the New York Times)
reported. The true story of two male penguins who raised a baby penguin
was seen by some parents and educators as "advocating homosexuality."
In all, 546 books were challenged last year and 30 were banned.
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Cool idea of the day: at its trade show in Atlanta, Ga., September 28-30, the Southeast Independent Booksellers Association will screen The Kite Runner, based on the bestseller and book group favorite by Khaled Hosseini. The movie will be released in November.
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And here's another cool idea:
With
the help of Schoolhouse Supplies--a volunteer-run free store for area
teachers that distributes supplies donated by the community--today
Powell's Books, Portland, Ore., is beginning to distribute 34,000 books
valued at $300,000 to Portland and Beaverton public school
librarians and teachers. The books are the fruit, as it were, of the
Powell's Schoolbook Challenge, held during the holiday season. For 45
days, beginning last November 14, Powell's donated 10 new books to
schools for every book pledge of $5.95 from an individual or business
in the community.
Portland and Beaverton school librarians and teachers select from a wide
assortment of elementary picture books, classic novels, history, math,
social science books, dictionaries, reference and learning tools. The
number of books allocated to each school depends on need, which is
determined by the school districts and Schoolhouse Supplies. Powell's
staff and Schoolhouse Supplies volunteers then box the books and
deliver them to the schools.
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Steven
Wilson, founder of Kudzu Book Traders and Academic Book Services and
owner of One Source Inc. and Wilson and Sons Antiques, Heirlooms and
Collectibles, died on Tuesday at age 49, Bargain Book News reported.
Wilson and a partner sold Academic Book Services to Follett earlier
this year. Wilson had opened Wilson and Son last October. The store in
Atlanta offers antiques, jewelry and a coffee shop that serves
breakfast and lunch.
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Labyrinth
Books, the scholarly bookstore with three locations--the original in
New York City near
Columbia University, a relatively new one in New Haven, Conn., near
Yale University and another in Princeton, N.J., that is scheduled to
open this fall--has
changed its name to Book Culture.
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Michael Link, who has been manager at Politics and Prose bookstore, Washington, D.C., for three years, is leaving at the end of this month and will become manager of publisher relations for the Joseph-Beth Group bookstores. He and his fiancee, a painter, wanted to move to Cincinnati, and after a casual inquiry, he landed the job with Joseph-Beth. He has worked at Politics and Prose for six years altogether. Owners Carla Cohen and Barbara Meade said they will miss his "warmth and joie de vivre" and "feel pangs of envy for Joseph-Beth."
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As
part of the celebration of its 80th birthday, the Strand Bookstore, New
York City, is continuing to ask customers--and members of the book
industry!--to vote for their five favorite books of any genre. Voting
ends at midnight on September 15. The top 80 titles, the Strand 80,
will be displayed in Strand stores and on the company's website. A
randomly selected voter will win the grand prize of all 80 titles. Vote
at strandbooks.com/strand80.
The grand prize drawing takes places during the Strand Bookstore
Literary & Arts Festival, a day-long celebration at the main store on Broadway on
October 13, from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Authors and artists are invited to meet
their fans and sign books. Among confirmed authors: Christian
Jungersen, author of The Exception, David Friedman, author of The Immortalists, Joseph Berger, author of The World in a City, Daniel Mendelsohn, author of The Lost, and Michael Buckley, author of the Sisters Grimm series.