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Creating Change Through Words & Pictures

Children's Book Press, Visionary Multicultural Nonprofit Publisher, Turns 35 in 2010

This year, Children's Book Press celebrates its 35th anniversary with various events, a fundraising campaign, special offers, and the publication of two new books. Founded in 1975, Children's Book Press is one of the nation's oldest and most highly respected nonprofit publishers of multicultural and bilingual children's books.

The anniversary festivities will unfold throughout the year, culminating in two events in San Francisco this fall. On September 26th, the Press will hold a free family-oriented public event featuring author readings, artist workshops, and book signings. In October, a gala fundraising event will honor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Gloria and Emilio Estefan (invited), and other local and national luminaries as we mark our 35th year.

Executive Director & Publisher Lorraine Garcia-Nakata states, "Over three and a half decades, this award-winning press has reflected diverse cultural perspectives and experiences so that young children and their families can explore their own cultures and other cultures in our national community."

Children's Book Press was the first nonprofit independent publisher to focus solely on multicultural and bilingual literature for children in the United States. The Press publishes first voice books from within the African American, Asian/Pacific American, Native American, Latino, and multiracial communities -- books for all children to enjoy and learn from. These books have won major awards including the Ezra Jack Keats New Writers Award, Pura Belpre Award, Jane Addams Award, Americas Award, Tomas Rivera Award, and others.

New titles for 2010 include "Let Me Help!" by award-winning author Alma Flor Ada, and "From North to South" by Rene Colato Lainez. These new books join a long line of groundbreaking titles, including "Family Pictures" (over 470,000 copies sold) and "Baby Rattlesnake" (over 220,000 copies sold).

Going forward, Children's Book Press will continue to be part of the conversation about our shifting national identity. "Our goal is twofold," says Executive Editor, Dana Goldberg. "On one hand, we will continue to authentically represent the lives of various underrepresented communities of color. On the other hand, our books also explore our collective identity as Americans."