For Immediate Release

March 7, 2005

Contact: Kathryn Blough
Ph: 212-255-0200 x263

Publishers Designate May 2005 as the Second Annual Latino Books Month

In its ongoing efforts to promote books by and for Latinos, the Association of American Publishers (AAP) has designated May 2005 as the second 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, and the AAP Task Force on Publishing Latino Voices for America 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, and others. · Libros en Español window clings to let everyone know that books are available in Spanish. · A fact sheet on the Latino community, the fastest growing demographic in the U.S. · A how-to sheet on starting a Spanish-language reading group within a community. · Contact information for booking Latino authors for May appearances. The resource kits will be available to booksellers, librarians, educators, and others who wish to promote a love of reading among Latinos in their communities. "The opportunity to highlight the breadth of talent within the Latino literary community is cause for celebration ," said Rene Alegria, Publisher of Rayo/HarperCollins. This second annual month-long event will encourage reading throughout the Hispanic community and help non-Latinos find books they will enjoy. With all components of the literary community involved, Latino Books Month is destined for a spot on everyone's reading calendar." 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.

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