FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

2008 Recommended Reading for Fifth Annual May Latino Books Month Announced

 Celebration of Latino Literature and Book Signings Scheduled at BookExpo America

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 – In its ongoing efforts to promote books by and for Latinos, the Association of American Publishers (AAP) has designated May 2008 as the fifth annual “Latino Books Month.”  During the month-long celebration, booksellers, librarians, and others in the book industry will encourage people in their communities to read books by and for Latinos, in both English and Spanish. 

As part of the initiative, AAP member publishers will hold special author events at BookExpo America, and the AAP Task Force on Publishing Latino Voices for America (PLVA) has created a Latino Books Month Resource Kit, which will include:

• A Latino Books Summer Reading List with recommended books for adults and children, in English and Spanish
   

• A Publishing Latino Voices Brochure, which includes a sampling of titles by and for Latinos published by AAP member publishing companies.
   

• Get Caught Reading/¡Ajá, leyendo! posters featuring celebrities including Gloria Estefan, Maya and Miguel, Jorge Ramos, Dora the Explorer, Jenna Bush, Mauricio Islas, and others.
   

• A “how-to” sheet on starting a Spanish-language reading group within a community.
   

• Contact information for booking Latino authors for author appearances.

The resource kits are currently available to booksellers, librarians, educators, and others who wish to promote a love of reading among Latinos in their communities. Those interested in a Latino Books Month resource kit should email Katie Ly at the Association of American Publishers kly@publishers.org or visit the AAP Booth at BookExpo America, Thursday, May 29 – Sunday, June 1 (Booth #4129). 

In celebration of Latino Books Month, a panel of renowned authors will share with industry professionals the inspiration for reaching out to booklovers of all ages with their upcoming children’s/young adult titles of interest to younger Latino audiences on Friday, May 30 from 3:15 pm – 4:15 pm in Room 404B of the Los Angeles Convention Center at BookExpo America. Speakers include: Oscar Hijuelos, author of Dark Dude (Simon & Schuster), Monica Brown, author of Pele, King of Soccer, (Rayo/HarperCollins) and Cheech Marin, author of Captain Cheech (HarperCollins).

From 4:15 – 5:15 pm, librarians and booksellers will hear from Latino authors who will share the back-story on the inspiration behind their upcoming works with a book signing immediately afterwards. Authors include Gustavo Arellano, author of Orange County:  I’ve Been Taking Notes (Scribner), Cecilia Samartin, author of Tarnished Beauty (Atria), and David Iglesias, author of In Justice (John Wiley & Sons). Both programs will be open to all BookExpo America registrants.

Additionally, to support the festivities that will be held nationwide on April 30 in celebration of El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children’s Day/Book Day 2008), the PLVA and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), have partnered for the first time to create a recommended reading list of children’s books in both English and Spanish for ages infancy-14 years for parents and others who choose books for children. The complete reading list is available online at www.getcaughtreading.org.

AAP is the national trade association of the U.S. book publishing industry. AAP’s approximately 300 members include most of the major commercial book publishers in the United States, as well as smaller and non-profit publishers, university presses, and scholarly societies. AAP members publish hardcover and paperback books in every field and a range of educational materials for the elementary, secondary, post-secondary, and professional markets. Members also produce computer software and electronic products and services. The AAP Publishing Latino Voices for America Task force was formed in 2002 in recognition of the growing Latino community in the United States and the phenomenal growth of the Latino book market.  

Reading List

2008-2009 Publishing Latino Voices brochure

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