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We recently exhibited at the Follett Library Resources/BWI National Sales Conference. We spoke with their sales reps from all over the country. This was the first time I’ve been to this event, and it was fabulous.  And although much smaller, it was remarkably similar to any number of trade shows we do throughout the year:  1) We had to set-up our table/booth at an odd hour and make it look pretty and inviting,

2) We spent hours on our feet talking about our books with people who love books, and

3) we spent time joking and working with our colleagues at other publishers. This third similarity is the real topic of this post. 

Sales and Marketing from Heinemann-Raintree, Capstone, Scholastic, Random House, PBS, HarperCollins, and Albert Whitman

On my first day in children’s book publishing, my young just-out-of-college self was told that no one works in children’s publishing by accident. I kept quiet, but my first thought was that I was there by accident. I hadn’t planned on this career throughout school. I didn’t fully understand that my boss didn’t mean that everyone in the business grew up thinking “I want to make and sells books when I grow up.” What she meant is that children’s book people are good people for whom books are not “widgets” and kids are not “end users.” This is true at every level, and in sales and marketing, in particular.

Children’s book marketing and sales people are – for the most part – friendly and hardworking. And we’ve all worked together in some form or another (for each other, with each other, for each other’s bosses, and so on). As such, it’s a very small and collegial community.

I’ve helped roll posters in other booths, and my colleagues have jumped in to hand out post-its to suddenly very long author signing lines. At the Follett event mentioned above, several of us almost set up a table for a latecomer. At large breakfast events or conference panels, I’ve seen large publishers help small publishers put freebies on the chairs. On “Newbery-Caldecott Morning,” fellow publishers are the first people in the winners’ booths with hugs and hearty congratulations. 

I’m told that this is not true in other industries – or even in the books-for-grown-ups world. And I don’t mean to imply that every person in children’s book publishing is a kind and benevolent soul – I’m not that much of a Pollyanna (despite my rose-colored glasses).  But the exceptions don’t tend to stay long and don’t reap the benefits of good relationships with other publishers.  I also don’t mean that children’s book publishers are not extremely professional and intelligent marketers – we are (after all) FOR PROFIT COMPANIES. That means that we create marketing plans, have proprietary mailing lists, keep company secrets, and in general, want to sell more books than the other guy. But fortunately, none of this means we can’t be friendly competitors.

Maybe it’s because we spend hours together in slow exhibit halls or hotel lobbies or airports. Maybe it’s because we’ve all worked in the same places at some point. Maybe we all know that most of our customers can and do buy more than one book. Maybe we know that we all really work for the kids. Or maybe my first boss was right and we’

I've just returned from a quick break to some exciting news regarding City Dog, Country Frog.The New England Independent Bookseller's Association has just named it Children's Book of the Year. As New Englanders, both Jon & I are thrilled by the nod from some of our favorite booksellers. Jon Muth will be accepting the award at the NEIBA convention on Sept. 30th. I, unfortunately, can't make it

I'm very pleased to announce the availability of a new sculpture entitled "UH OH!". The powder Coated Stainless Steel, 16.5" x 2" x 6.25" is limited to an edition of 16 and available at Gallery Henoch in New York. Much like a wire sculpture, but much less fragile, it is made in part to be viewed as a projected shadow.(I have a long history with Gallery Henoch, having worked there in the 80's and

An awesome package came in the old mail bag recently. The very first set of PIGEON GAMES!First off there's the awesome Pigeon doll.But, wait a second! That's not a doll! It's the packaging for THE PIGEON WANTS A MATCH!, the brand new matching game that's more fun than driving a bus!Each game has tons of scenes from your favorite Pigeon adventures:Plus brand new, never been used in a matching

The studio is going to ease up on posts during the summer in order to focus on some work (and focus on some playtime).Do check back on occasion as there will be some fun stuff this summer including my visit to ALA in Washington, DC, a very cool exhibit at San Francisco's Cartoon Art Museum (along with work of Jeff Smith!), brand new Pigeon games and puzzles, and assorted bits of oddness.And as

The past week was a whirlwind of activity at both BEA and the National Cartoonist Society convention.It was a very busy time and I found myself signing at various locales, bumping into a KAJILLION* pals, and (particularly at the Cartoonist shin-dig) meeting new folks whose work I admire.One of the special events of the week was an exhibition featuring some of Jon Muth's paintings from the

On May 10th, 1876, President Ulysses S. Grant stood near the front steps of Memorial Hall to formally open the Centennial Exhibition and invite the world to see how much America had grown since 1776. The Centennial Exhibition served not only as America’s 100th birthday party, but more importantly was the third World’s Fair to be held in the United States! Did you know that bananas, kindergarten and the telephone were first introduced to many Americans at the fair?













Opening day of the Centennial Exhibition, May 10, 1876
View from the steps of Memorial Hall, looking toward the Main Exhibition Building. The bleacher seating was for the VIPs—Centennial Commission members, U.S. and foreign political figures and special guests.

Image Courtesy, Robby Cohen Collection



In addition to introducing America as an industrialized nation, the Centennial Exhibition also introduced the world to numerous new and exciting discoveries and inventions. The Centennial closed on November 10, 1876, and in those short six months over 10 million people had come to Philadelphia to see and experience the excitement and grandeur of the Centennial Exhibition!

On Monday, we will be celebrating the 134th anniversary of opening day with special Centennial themed programming throughout the museum. The day’s programming is intended to highlight major themes of the Centennial Exhibition, while introducing our young audience to the concept of history through age appropriate, familiar, and fun activities.

Kids will be able to paint, explore transportation of the period, and play with reproduction Froebel blocks throughout the day in the Program Room. The Story Castle will feature carnival themed stories at 10:30 and 3:30. Visitors will get the opportunity to interact with collections objects during a stereograph themed KidGlove Program at 1:00 in the Centennial Train Station. In addition, there will be parades in the Centennial Train Station at 12:00 and 2:00.

And grown-ups, don’t worry we didn’t forget about you, we will be offering special $10 guided Centennial Tours at 2:00 Saturday, May 8th to Monday, May 10th.

This week's Collections object is a Diego action figure!

Extreme Rainforest Rescue Diego, especially designed for toddlers, comes ready for adventure with his snap on backpack. This Diego action figure is based on the character from the Nick Jr. television show Go Diego Go! The animated television series was a spin-off from the wildly popular Dora the Explorer, a bilingual cartoon geared towards preschoolers.

Put on your looking eyes and see if you can find it during your next visit! For more info about Hide and Seek of the Week, click here.

Starting tomorrow with Earth Day (April 22) and all the way through Arbor Day (April 30), Please Touch Museum will be celebrating Earth Week with the goal of promoting environmental awareness and stewardship. By building for their own futures and understanding their role or place in the world, children grow to care for nature and learn about individual responsibility.

Join us for Earth Week themed Story Times in the Story Castle where families will receive "Creative Re-Use and Play for Everyday!" booklets, which are filled with wonderful ideas on how they can be "green" while playing with their children and having fun. The booklets are printed on recycled paper and offer tips on how to support environmental awareness by using recycled materials, reducing waste and learning to practice creative re-use at home. In addition, Earth Day Kits donated by Plan Toys will be given out tomorrow, April 22, specifically for Earth Day. Be sure to get yours!

Check out this list of educational programming:

• Recycled print making and 'decorate the museum' with high school ACES students in the Program Room on Saturday, April 24 by creating recycled collages on chairs to be used in front of the Kids Store.
• March, move, shake, rattle and roll using recycled musical instruments at the End of the Day Parades.
• Hide and Seek out author Dan Lipow's Original Prints from "I Love Our Earth" (pictured above and below).
• Take a trip to the great outdoors without even leaving the Program Room during the Creative Dramatics Camping Kids Playtime.
• Join the silly Chefs Charlene, Sean and Sheldon at the Kooky Cooks Recycling Show in the Supermarket as they discover how to renew, reuse, and remake using everyday household items, a little imagination, a very special cooking pot, and lot of laughs!
• Look for appearances from Corny the Acorn Puppet: Corny is often seen in the Exploring Trees: Inside and Out exhibit, making sure visitors are doing “Oak-Kay” while they play and learn about trees and nature.

Looking for ways to celebrate Earth Week at home?

• Read Dr. Suess’ book "Lorax" and Dan Lipow's "I Love Our Earth"
• Plant flowers
• Sign up for a park or community clean-up
• Create a family tree, literally! Get together with your family to spend the day outside and plant a tree. You will be able to watch it grow as your family grows!
• Enjoy the outdoors by taking a nature walk through Fairmount Park

There is still time to see some of my artwork in person in the North Shore!

Head to Wavepaint Gallery. (And do say hello to gallery owner and old RISD classmate Barbara for me.)



And while you are in the area, head to the Gallery Della-Piana. (And do say hello to my old Montserrat College of Art colleague Elissa for me. Don't forget to stop in next door and see the amazing work of seamstress Harper Della-Piana.)










There are lots of fantastic artists whose works are on display as well. Look! It's Kelly Murphy! Prepare for your jaw to drop in how beautiful these paintings look in person.

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