Live from Los Angeles

Today marked the second day of this year's BEA annual event, held in Los Angeles. I met several new contacts during the past two days and have been introduced to great websites, bookstores and librarians who are just as eager to get quality books into the hands of readers as we are.

Every year, I come back from BEA feeling refreshed and excited about the future of international children's books and our role in bringing the children of the world closer together and it wouldn't be possible without the others in this growing industry:

Las Comadres is a nationally known Latina organization empowering women to be actively engaged in the growing Latino/Hispanic communities through on line and face to face networks. Their mission is to help connect and empower Latinas everywhere through community building/networking, culture, learning and technology.

The Home of the Braves

Atlanta is home to many wonderful and diverse Kane/Miller customers. We're pleased to share with you the following accounts that carry our books:

Richard's Variety

Charis: Books and More

Tall Tales Book Shop

2105 Lavista Road
Atlanta, GA 30329

Junkman's Daughter

Sprout: a children's store

It's a Baby

High Museum of Art

Kangaroo Pouch

56 E Andrews Dr NW

Atlanta, GA 30305

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

Martinis & IMAX (What a brilliant idea!)

*If your store is in Atlanta and you carry Kane/Miller titles, please let us know! We certainly didn't mean to exclude anyone and want to highlight every place we can. Links to your website are greatly appreciated! Additional cities will be featured in future City Editions of the Kane/Miller newsletter and blog.

Do Not Pass Go!

If you say the phrase, "Do not pass go!", 9 out of 10 individuals will know what you're referring to. Actually, I just made up that statistic, but with the number of spin-off editions of the original Monopoly board game, children of all ages will most likely come across one or more versions in their lifetime.

Bookopoly is about the only version that I can see myself wanting to play (aside from the Gourmet editions).

Instead of the usual properties, you buy, sell, and trade classic works of literature. Collect bookstores and trade them for libraries!

Where in the World is Kane/Miller?

We have customers in all shapes and sizes, in cities large and small - bookstores, gift stores, toy stores, children's boutiques, even liquor stores (some of them) carry our books (some of them...you know which ones).

I recently received a lovely little email from a kidlit blogger who was pleasantly surprised to find our books in a toy store when she was on vacation. If you're heading out of town or just want to find out what stores in your area carry our books, send me an email and please let me know the name of the city or the zip code you'll be staying in (or near) and I will gladly send you a list of stores for you to check out.

Of course, you already know that you can find information on independent bookstores at BookSense, but if you're looking for more options, I'm happy to help.

Local Bookselling Report

In this week's Publishers Weekly, an article by Karen Holt discusses a state-by-state analysis of the bookselling landscape. The United States were listed by the number of Booksellers per Capita. These booksellers include ABA members, CBA members, as well as general stores and larger bookstores that need not be named (you know who they are).

The top ten states on the list include: Wyoming, Vermont, Montana, New Hampshire, Iowa, Alaska, Colorado, Maine, North Dakota and Kansas.