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Young Readers

May 14, 2013

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Profile America -- Tuesday, May 14th. This week is the 94th annual Children's Book Week --encouraging the joy of reading for young people. The idea began in 1913 with a drive by the librarian of the Boy Scouts, Franklin Matthiews, to promote higher standards in children's books. He got two other key people to join him -- the editor of Publisher's Weekly and the head of children's works at the New York Public Library. Children's Book Week began in 1919, and over the years, its efforts have helped to find and promote high quality children's books. In today's world, there are many alternatives vying for children's attention -- computers, electronic books, DVDs and video games. But sales of printed books for youngsters still top $2.5 billion worth each year. Profile America is in its 17th year as a public service of the U.S. Census Bureau.

Sources: www.bookweekonline.com
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012, t. 1134
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/cats/information_communications.html