Raising Readers
“Hachette’s $1 book sale is one of the most exciting events that we host annually for our communities to make reading for pleasure accessible to everyone,” says Mike Shoults, CEO of Hachette Book Group U.S. Distribution.
On Saturday, June 13, central Indiana residents are invited to the Hachette Book Group’s annual $1 Book Sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event includes the Raising Readers free children’s book giveaway from 8 to 9 a.m. at the Hachette Book Group U.S. Distribution Center in the Lebanon Business Park.
“This year’s sale is especially unique as we mark Hachette’s 200th anniversary, and we’re working hard to feature our Raising Readers campaign,” Shoults says. “Raising Readers is a global social impact campaign addressing the decline in children’s reading for fun and calls on parents and caregivers to read to children for just 10 minutes a day to make them smarter and happier.”
Shoults notes that on June 13, the company plans to give away more than 1,000 free children’s books in addition to the massive, discounted $1 book sale, furthering the mission to make it easy for everyone to discover new worlds of ideas, entertainment and opportunity.
In today’s digital world, children are more likely to reach for a video game, tablet, computer or cellphone instead of a book. In response, Hachette Book Group created Raising Readers to provide children access to books and grow a passion for reading. The Indy Book Project and United Way of Central Indiana are organizational partners in the campaign.
“Reading and reading alone is the biggest factor in a child’s success, more than socioeconomic background,” says Gabrielle Gambrell, chief communications officer of Hachette Book Group. “If a child is an avid reader, they are studious, adventurous, they think outside the box, they’re innovative, they’re strategic, and there’s data that shows that children who read for fun and pleasure positively impact their emotional health, mental health, well-being and their ability to be successful.”
Hachette Book Group is a general-interest book publisher whose titles have received the National Book Award, Newbery and Caldecott medals, and Pulitzer and Nobel prizes. Imprints include Basic Books Group, Grand Central Publishing Group, Hachette Audio, Little, Brown and Company, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, Orbit, The Workman Publishing Group and the Running Press Group. Hachette Book Group is a division of Hachette Livre.
Hachette Livre is the third-largest trade and educational publisher in the world, headquartered in Paris. In recognition of its 200th year, the company is investing $200,000 toward the Raising Readers campaign. This investment will fund books for 200 underserved schools, provide 200 author visits to classrooms and create 200 free little libraries in book deserts across the country.
The annual sale in Lebanon brings out thousands of people to provide central Indiana affordable access to books. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Indy Book Project.
“We want to make sure that we are giving free books into the hands of children and parents and caregivers, so we will be giving away more than 1,000 free books on a first-come, first-served basis completely separate from the sale,” Gambrell says.
To serve as many families as possible, organizers recommend reserving a family ticket on Eventbrite for all children in the household so each child receives a book. Also, the pigeon from the children’s book series by Mo Willems will be present to honor the book “It’s My Bird-Day!”
The Raising Readers giveaway is a separate event held prior to the sale. For safety reasons, children younger than 12 are not permitted at the $1 Book Sale.
The sale takes place at the Hachette Book Group Distribution Center, 121 N. Enterprise Blvd. in Lebanon. Items are overstock and should not be resold as new. Carts and wagons are not allowed, but handled cartons, holding areas and carryout assistance will be provided. The event will feature food trucks Scott Diggity Dogs and Travelin’ Tom’s, and bottled water provided by Lebanon Youth Engagement Services.
To learn more, visit joinraisingreaders.com and sign the pledge to read to a child for 10 minutes a day.
