What's with the Twibbon?

People have been asking about the Twibbon on our Twitter account. That multicolored ball shows that Leap Books is a partner on the Children's Book Council (CBC) Diversity Committee. The committee is "dedicated to increasing the diversity of voices and experiences contributing to children’s and young adult literature." Leap Books believes diversity enriches everyone's life experiences, so we strive to publish books that feature a variety of voices in our novels for teens and tweens. We think all children and teens should see themselves and their lives depicted in books.

We are always open to agented submissions portraying multicultural characters and diverse life experiences, so we are actively looking for authors and illustrators who can share their culture through words or art. For more about what Leap Books is looking for, watch for the article on multiculturalism by Sue Ford in WRITER'S GUIDE TO 2013 (The Writer's Institute) for an interview with our publisher.

Here are a few Leap Books with a diversity connection:

Island Sting and Stakeout by Bonnie J. Doerr both have a Cuban American hero.

 Under My Skin and Second Skin, set in Canada, have a First Nations hero.

For the Love Strangers stars teenager Darya, who along with her brother, was adopted from Russia.

No Ordinary Book

Spirited has been selected for the Children's Book Council Winter Seasonal Showcase, No Ordinary Book. The title is also featured on the CBC homepage.

What makes Spirited so special?

First of all, it's filled with stories by talented authors. Contributing authors include Maria V. Snyder, Candace Havens, Shannon Delany, Jill William-son, Linda Joy Singleton, Heather Kenealy, Judith Graves, Kitty Keswick, Dawn Dalton, Carmen Tudor, John W. Otte, Halli Dee Lilburn, and Mark Finnemore.

Second, the anthology benefits charity. All proceeds from the sale of SPIRITED will be donated to 826 National, a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting students, ages 6-18, to improve their writing skills.

Third, it contains AR. If you prefer your apparitions 3-D rather than 2-D, slide the AR icons under your webcam to see the augmented reality leap off the page. (Thanks to Karl Gee for the AR.)

Your Last Chance

Today's your last chance to attend a Children's Book Week event. This week, which runs from May 10-16, is coming to end. But don't despair, you can enjoy an exciting program today at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC.

In addition to 6 other fabulous authors from a variety of publishing houses, you can meet Leap Books author Bonnie J. Doerr in person from 1-3 pm today. Pick up an autographed copy of her book Island Sting. And you'll also get to hear readings from Freaksville by Kitty Keswick and Under My Skin by Judith Graves. And get to see the great graphics by Val Cox. If you haven't already snagged a copy, all the books will be for sale at the event. Or get one from our Leap Books store for 30% off from now until May 31, 2010.

Children's Book Week

This week (May 10-16) is Children's Book Week. It's a great time to celebrate literature, authors, and books.

The American Booksellers Association began Children’s Book Week in 1919. In 1944 the Children’s Book Council (CBC) took over the role of promoting reading and literacy through Children’s Book Week activities. Each year in May, CBC sponsors a nationwide week of events to encourage children and teens to read. A list of these events, as well as related online activities, can be found at the Children's Book Council website. To read more about the history of Children's Book Week, go here.

As a member of the Children's Book Council, Leap Books supports Children's Book Week. Leap Books authors will be featured at a program at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC, on May 16, 2010 from 1-3 pm.

If you can't make it to North Carolina this weekend, come out to see our authors at BEA in NY the end of May. More later about the fabulous events our authors have planned as they descend on the Big Apple. Or meet author Bonnie J. Doerr at the Bookfest in NC the following weekend (June 5, 2010) or at ALA in Washington, DC, the end of June or in Harrisburg, PA, the weekend of June 26. Stay tuned for more info on these and other upcoming events.

Californians will have an opportunity to see author Kitty Keswick in person, and Canadians can meet author Judith Graves at many venues throughout the provinces this summer. Our authors are on the road, so we'd be glad to stop at a location near you. If you want to be sure we get to your town, contact Cathleen Cartwright, Public Relations Assistant, to book an author visit. Or if a visit is too pricey, ask about a Skype visit. Our authors love to visit schools, libraries, bookstores, and book clubs--either in person or virtually.

Bonnie Doerr Appearing at Flyleaf Books in Chapel Hill, NC

FLYLEAF BOOKS HOSTS LOCAL AUTHORS FOR CHILDREN'S BOOK WEEK

Chapel Hill, NC-Local author Bonnie J. Doerr will be appearing at Flyleaf
Books in Chapel Hill, NC, from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, May 16, during Children's Book
Week. Doerr's debut novel, Island Sting, is the first in a series of
eco-mysteries for tweens published by Leap Books. Her next two books,
Stakeout (2011) and Pelican Peril (2012), are also fast-paced, science-based
adventures set in the Florida Keys. Doerr's writing has won a NOAA (National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) grant for use in environmental
education.

Six other local authors will join Doerr for a reading, question-and-answer
session, and booksigning. Hear excerpts from David Macinnis Gill's
award-winning YA, Soul Enchilada ; Caroline McAlister's retold folktales
¡Holy Molé! (August House) and Brave Donatella and the Jasmine Thief
(Charlesbridge); Maryam Tabibzadeh's poetic Persian Dreams (Dream Books);
Laurie J. Edwards' biography of R&B singer Rihanna (Lucent) and
thriller/romance from the anthology Summer Lovin' (Wild Rose Press);
Adrienne Ehlert Bashista's picture books on Russian adoption, When I Met You
and Mishka: An Adoption Tale (DRT Press); and Anne Runyon's seasonal picture
book, The Sheltering Cedar (Portal Books).

Attendees will be treated to a sneak peek at two of Leap Books' most recent
paranormal releases: Freaksville by Kitty Keswick and Under My Skin by
Judith Graves. These teen novels have unique graphics and illustrations by
Canadian artist Val Cox. Leap Books, a newly launched publisher of teen and
tween books, is sponsoring this Children's Book Week event at Flyleaf Books,
752 Martin Luther King Blvd. (Historic Airport Rd./Highway 86) in Chapel
Hill, NC.

Featured authors are all members of SCBWI (Society of Children's Book
Writers and Illustrators), an international organization that provides
networking, education, and support for authors and illustrators of
children's books at all stages of their careers.

The American Booksellers Association began Children's Book Week in 1919. In
1944 the Children's Book Council (CBC) took over the role of promoting
reading and literacy through Children's Book Week activities. Each year in
May, CBC sponsors a nationwide week of events to encourage children and
teens to read. A list of these events, as well as related online activities,

can be found at the CBC website.