With what’s described as a waning summer-reading habit since the end of the Soviet era, Russian government officials say they’re working on a new program to promote vacation reading both for youngsters and adults this year.
Greece Opens Athens’ Year as UNESCO’s World Book Capital
International officials and media gather on World Book Day to open the 18th UNESCO World Book Capital program in Athens, celebrating what Greece’s Prokopis Pavlopoulos calls ‘the powerful potential of books.’
Readers Rack Up Pages Read in Free Translations from AmazonCrossing for World Book Day
A fast-updating ticker from Amazon Charts is displaying how many pages have been read in nine AmazonCrossing translations that can be downloaded free through April 24 in recognition of World Book Day.
Storytelling Competition from Film and Television: What Can Publishers Do?
Publishing’s traditional position as society’s main storytelling industry may be in jeopardy. At a Byte the Book session during London Book Fair, speakers discussed how publishers can remain competitive.
National Book Foundation’s ‘Book Rich Environments’ Enters Second Season
The program, run by the foundation that presents the annual National Book Award, is designed to distribute free, new books to young readers through public housing authorities in the United States.
At the First European Children’s Bookstore Conference: Internet-Generation Readers
In examining common ground between independent booksellers and publishers at Bologna’s new bookstore conference, the International Publishers Association’s Michiel Kolman previewed some of the tensions to be debated at London Book Fair.
Industry Notes: Clinton and Patterson at BookCon; ‘One Book, One New York’ Returns
In New York-related notes, James Patterson and his first president-collaborator Bill Clinton are to speak at BookCon in June, while the city has begun voting which book it will ‘read togtether’ from a list of five.
Looking Ahead to Taipei International Book Exhibition: Interview With Chairman James Chao
‘The Power of Reading’ is the message to Taiwan’s consumer base at this year’s Taipei International Book Exhibition, while Frankfurter Buchmesse’s professional program there examines changes in business, markets, and sales.
Industry Notes: Canada’s Wattpad Announces $51 Million in Funding
The platform’s community, according to media information, grew in 2017 by more than 40 percent and now draws more than 65 million users monthly to its system, which supports more than 50 languages.
Disney Publishing Opens Sixth Annual Campaign for First Book
By buying Disney books, sending in reading-related photos, and reading from the Disney app, consumers can contribute to Disney Publishing’s book donations to First Book.