Executive Shelf for 02/07/2025
A weekly review of events in bookselling from the editors at Shelf Awareness, led by editor-in-chief John Mutter
Canadians on U.S. tariffs.
Trying to make sense out of nonsense.
The week started with the imminent threat of U.S. tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. Despite a last-minute postponement of the tariffs on Canada and Mexico, they could still be put in place at the end of the month. In Shelf Awareness, Canadian publisher Don Gorman outlined the tariffs' likely miserable effect on North American book publishing and bookselling. And in his weekly column Robert Gray discussed how Canadian publishers and booksellers are rallying by highlighting Canadian books and authors, though some noted that the book trade has an imbalance in favor of the U.S., with the U.S. exporting many more books to Canada than importing Canadian books.
Big Five, others sue over Idaho's book-banning law.
The Big Five, Sourcebooks, and others filed suit against an Idaho book-banning law that represents an expansion of state book-banning efforts: it applies to public libraries as well as school libraries and includes a "deputization" provision, encouraging anyone to challenge books or libraries and receive "statutory damages" of $250 if changes aren't made after 60 days. In addition, some Idaho public libraries are too small to have the mandated "adult" section so they've had to become "adult libraries," with people under 18 admitted only if accompanied by adults.
Hachette names director of DEI, a new position.
At a time when many companies and organizations are jettisoning DEI efforts, Hachette Book Group set a fine contrary example this week when it named Sara Munjack director of diversity, equity, and inclusion, a new position. She was formerly inaugural director of diversity, equity, and inclusion for Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.
ABA board elections, new director appointed.
Among the people up for election to the board of directors of the American Booksellers Association is one of our favorite booksellers, Paul Hanson, co-owner of Village Books, Bellingham and Lynden, Wash. He follows in promising footsteps: his former boss and the former owner of the store Chuck Robinson was an ABA board member--and president.
The ABA also announced the appointment to the board of Talia Whyte, a worker-owner at Rozzie Bound Co-op in Boston, Mass., filling the seat vacated mid-term by Danny Caine, the former co-owner of Raven Book Store, Lawrence, Kan.
AAP: HarperCollins' Brian Murray elected chair; Chronicle's Tyrrell Mahoney vice chair.
Brian Murray, president and CEO of HarperCollins, has been elected chair of the board of directors of the Association of American Publishers, a position he has held once before, and Tyrrell Mahoney, president of Chronicle Books, has been elected vice chair. Jeremy North, managing director, books, Taylor & Francis, was re-elected as treasurer. In a slight understatement, Maria A. Pallante, president and CEO of the AAP, welcomed Murray back as chair "at this pivotal time for publishing."
Barnes & Noble continues store-opening rush.
Barnes & Noble continues on an expansion tear, with three stores opening next week and four last week. The bookseller aims to open 60 this year, following 57 last year.
Happy 50th Birthday, Greenwillow Books!
Greenwillow Books is celebrating its 50th birthday. See our dedicated issue coverage of the esteemed children's book publisher's past and future here.
Major awards, Reese's Book Club pick.
Set in the 16th century, Isola by Allegra Goodman (The Dial Press) is the February pick for Reese's Book Club.
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Shelf Awareness continued interviewing some of the winners of the 2025 Youth Media Awards, announced Monday during ALA's LibLearnX Conference:
Craig Kofi Farmer, who won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe New Talent Award for his debut novel, the middle grade fantasy Kwame Crashes the Underworld (Roaring Brook Press).
C.G. Esperanza, who won the Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award for his art in My Daddy Is a Cowboy, written by Stephanie Seales (Abrams Books for Young Readers).
Jamiel Law, who won the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe Illustrator Award for his debut picture book as an illustrator, Jimmy's Rhythm & Blues: The Extraordinary Life of James Baldwin (HarperCollins), written by Michelle Meadows.
Other awards announced during the week included Walter Dean Myers winners, PEN Translates winners, the PEN/Faulkner Fiction longlist, Gotham Book finalists, and last but not least, the fourth Grammy award for the late Jimmy Carter, this one for his narration of Sunday Mornings in Plains: Bringing Peace to a Changing World (Simon & Schuster Audio).
Shelf Awareness reviews, author Q&As.
This week Shelf Awareness reviewed A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames (Erewhon Books); The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (Pantheon); The Girl Who Wore Pants by Susanna Isern, illus. by Esther Gili (NubeOcho); Cold Thief Place by Esther Lin (Alice James Books); Luminous by Silvia Park (Simon & Schuster).
We also had a Q&A with Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer on the publication of the YA edition of her book, True Gretch (Atheneum Books for Young Readers) and a Q&A with Samantha Schoech, founding director of the wildly popular Independent Bookstore Day, whose debut collection of short stories, My Mother's Boyfriends, is being published by 7.13 Books.
In Memoriam.
Translator Marion Wiesel; novelist, short story writer, and biographer Millicent Dillon; sales reps John Majeska and David Einig.