A number of publisher partners have provided information and best practices for booksellers to follow when hosting story times and related digital events:
- Abrams is allowing for remote story times as follows: note at the beginning of the video that you are reading with permission of Abrams Children’s Books, as well as its title, author, and illustrator; when posting a video through Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, etc., the content should come down after the story time; send an email to permissions@abramsbooks.com [1] with your name, store, city, state, the title and author/illustrator of the book(s) as well as a follow-up email with a link to your video.
- Blue Manatee Press has given bookstores full permission to use its books for virtual story times (no asking needed).
- Candlewick has launched the Where’s Waldo? At Home [2] web portal that features activities for quarantining families and assets for retailers, including downloadable activity sheets, book information and videos, and a social media campaign using the hashtag #FindWaldoatHome.
- Highlights for Children has launched Highlights @ Home [3], a new free service that delivers themed content bundles twice a week, including stories, puzzles, videos, games, physical activities, and more.
- Peachtree Publishing Company Inc. has launched its Remote Learning Resources Hub [4], a one-stop-shop for educators, librarians, booksellers, and parents seeking free downloadable resources for learning and fun.
- Penguin Random House is permitting booksellers to create and share story time and read-aloud videos and live events according to these guidelines [5].
- The Quarto Group issued online reading guidelines as follows: Mention at the beginning of your video that you are using the book with permission from The Quarto Group; authors and illustrators are welcome to read their own books or share projects from their books, and we encourage you to collaborate with and tag your author/illustrator counterpart when possible; limit readings to media that is posted for a limited time, such as Instagram or Facebook live, Instagram stories, Snapchat, etc. If sharing to IGTV, please archive or remove after 15 days; do not archive or save complete readings to more permanent channels like YouTube; tag Quarto in any posts so that we can share your posts as well; make purchase links available via swipe up or in your bio/linktree, etc.; send your name, school/organization, city, state, and the title, author, and illustrator of the book you intend to read online to readings@quarto.com [6].
- Simon & Schuster is providing reading group and teaching guides, authors studies, and more at The Book Pantry [7]. Simon & Schuster is permitting booksellers to conduct livestreams, and post readings of Simon & Schuster children’s books for customers, subject to the terms and conditions posted on the Simon & Schuster website [8].
- Sourcebooks is allowing booksellers to create and share online story times according to these guidelines [9].