FIRST ANNUAL NATIONAL PICTURE BOOK WEEK MAY 1-7, 2011

National Picture Book Week (NPBW) is a week-long, nation-wide celebration of picture books, encouraging picture book readings, signings and projects. The NPBW Website offers free posters and brochures to help create events during this special week.

Beyond celebrations, the NPBW Website honors picture books year-round at the Website's "Beauty of Picture Books" blog. Contributors to the blog include award-winning children's book authors and illustrators, Eloise Greenfield and Jan Spivey Gilchrist; illustrator and creator of "Uncommon Creatures and Beasts," Doreen Kassel; McGraw-Hill Sr. Editor, Donya Dickerson; Susan Brenner of Bright Horizons Family Solutions; author and NPBW organizer, Linda Eve Diamond, and NPBW's own Little Bear.

National Picture Book Week was inspired by the trend to begin turning the page as quickly as possible from picture books to text-only books to accelerate learning. NPBW hopes to inspire memorable events as well as discussions about the enduring value of picture books as both an important part of early learning and a fun way for children to develop a lifetime love of books.

Please join us in celebrating National Picture Book Week by encouraging and arranging special readings, signings and events during the first week of May. Anyone hosting an event or helping kids with a picture-book related project during this time is invited to send pictures to be featured at the NPBW Website and Facebook page. For more information, video, posters and brochures, visit NationalPictureBookWeek.com.