Longtime publishing executive and book advocate Carl Lennertz will join the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader as Executive Director, effective August 8, 2016, it was announced today by Jon Anderson, Chair of the CBC board, and Judith Haut, Chair of the Every Child a Reader board.
Lennertz brings to the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader a wide range of experience across the book publishing industry, as Executive Director of the nationwide literacy effort World Book Night U.S. (2011-2014), as the creator of the Book Sense (now IndieBound) Children’s and Adult Bestseller and Indie Next lists at the American Booksellers Association (1999-2003), as well as several sales, marketing, and publishing roles at various trade publishers, and as a bookseller. Lennertz has established a reputation throughout the industry as a passionate and relentless champion of books and authors in both the trade publishing and nonprofit arenas.
As Executive Director reporting to the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader boards, Lennertz will oversee the development and execution of educational programming for members of the children’s publishing industry and national and local literacy-based community programming. In addition, he will be responsible for existing events, campaigns, and programs—including the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, Children’s Book Week, and the Children’s Choice Book Awards—as well as expanding both organizations’ national scope.
“We couldn’t be happier to have a publishing professional of Carl’s caliber taking the reins of the Children’s Book Council,” said Anderson. “Carl’s love of the book business is legendary and I know I speak for the entire board when I say that we can’t wait to see the new directions he takes the CBC as it looks ahead to its 100th anniversary in 2019.”
“I feel extremely privileged to be involved again with literacy, especially for children and spreading awareness of children’s books and the joy of reading,” said Lennertz. “I can’t wait to build on the vibrant range of programs already offered by the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader in collaboration with the energetic CBC staff and ALL the dedicated authors, teachers, librarians, booksellers, publishers, printers, and literacy partners across America.”
“We are thrilled to have Carl’s incredible experience, his full faceted knowledge of the book industry, and his unmatched passion for books now focused on the children’s industry,” said Haut. “We can’t imagine a person better suited to shepherd Every Child a Reader and its programs to a whole new level of success.”
Lennertz holds a B.A. in psychology from SUNY Stony Brook and has taught marketing at the University of Denver Summer Publishing Institute since 2006. He lives in New York.
About the Children’s Book Council (CBC)
The Children’s Book Council is the nonprofit trade association for children’s book publishers in North America. The CBC offers children’s publishers the opportunity to work together on issues of importance to the industry at large, including educational programming, literacy advocacy, and collaborations with other national organizations. Our members span the spectrum from large international houses to smaller independent presses. The CBC is proud to partner with other national organizations on co-sponsored reading lists, educational programming, and literacy initiatives. Please visitwww.cbcbooks.org for more information.
About Every Child a Reader
Every Child a Reader is a 501(c)(3) literacy organization dedicated to instilling a lifelong love of reading in children. Every Child a Reader creates and supports programs that strive to make the reading and enjoyment of children’s books an essential part of America’s educational and social aims and enhance public perception of the importance of reading. Every Child a Reader’s programs include Children’s Book Week, a nationwide celebration of books and reading, and the longest-running national literacy initiative in the country; the Children’s Choice Book Awards, the only national book awards program where the winning titles are selected by kids and teens of all ages; and the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature program, the country’s “Children’s Literature Laureate.” Please visit http://www.cbcbooks.org/
