BTW News Briefs

Tamblyn to Become CEO of Kobo

Michael Tamblyn has been named the new CEO of Kobo, taking over from Takahito (Taka) Aiki, effective January 2016.

A founding member of Kobo, Tamblyn was named president of the company in April 2014. Shortly before that, in February 2014, Mike Serbinis left his position as Kobo CEO and was succeeded by Aiki, an executive in Kobo’s parent company, Rakuten.

Tamblyn, who will now be Kobo’s president and CEO, will continue to work closely with Aiki, who will become vice executive manager of the companies in the Rakuten Global eBook Business, including Kobo, Kobo Japan, OverDrive, and Aquafadas, a software development company specializing in digital publishing applications.

Aiki will remain involved in Kobo as chairman.

Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K–12 List Announced

The National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the Children’s Book Council (CBC) have announced their annual list of 2016 Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 (published in 2015).

The titles on the list are selected by a diverse panel of teachers, librarians, early childhood experts, authors, and others to provide educators with ideas for books that help children cultivate a love of science and storytelling.

Selections for the list, which includes picture books, graphic novels, narrative nonfiction, and other types of books, were made with an emphasis on literary quality, substantial and/or inspirational science content, and a clear, accurate, and inviting approach to science.

Author/Founder of Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day Organizes Bookstore Field Trip

Suspense writer Jenny Milchman, the founder of Take Your Child to a Bookstore Day, has announced that, as a follow-up to this Saturday’s celebration, on January 15, 2016, 36 pre-K students will be treated to a field trip to their local bookstore in the rural community of Johnstown, New York.

Take your Child to a Bookstore Day is traditionally celebrated on the first Saturday of December, this year December 5. Over the past six years, the literacy event has grown from 80 participating bookstores to 800-plus on five continents.

The trip to Mysteries on Main Street is being made possible by support from donors, the expertise of author and grant writer Dan Barrett, and elementary school teacher Heidi Sprouse.

In addition to being given a free book (in some cases the first a child has ever owned), each student will take part in a youth writers’ workshop and will be treated to pizza with their classmates and teachers. Milchman hopes that, if the day is successful, similar programs will be introduced in at-risk towns and cities nationwide.

Vicki Lansky to Retire from Book Peddlers

Author Vicki Lansky, the owner and publisher of parenting and household advice book publisher Book Peddlers, is retiring effective January 2016. Diane Schwarze, Lanksy’s assistant of seven years, will succeed her as head of the company. Lansky will continue to work as a consultant to the company, whose books are distributed by Publishers Group West.

Lansky has been involved in the book publishing industry for more than 40 years and is the author of many parenting and household hints books. Over her long career, Lansky has appeared on a number of TV shows to promote her books, including Oprah, The View, and numerous other national and local talk shows.