Podcast
BookED
Hosted by American Booksellers Association · EN
BookED is the bookstore education podcast brought to you by the American Booksellers Association. For additional bookstore resources or to sign up as an ABA member, visit us at www.bookweb.org.
15episodes
Episodes
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Ci2026: Decoding Children's Book Awards
3d ago01:02:06Tap to summarizeThere are so many literary awards for children's books, so how do you keep up? Especially as established awards are now expanding to include children's books! This panel introduces booksellers to the wide landscape of children's book awards, from national honors to regional and genre-specific prizes. Hear how stores are also adapting this format into making their own engaging award programs! Recorded June 28, 2026 at Children's Institute 2026 in Schaumburg, Illinois. Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org. Theme song by Constant Companion
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Ci2026: Children's Bookselling 101: A Seminar
3d ago01:57:10Tap to summarizeThis session is for those new — and newer! — to children's bookselling. Long-time children's booksellers will demystify and clarify important information you wouldn't know until someone told you! Developing sales rep relationships, opening accounts versus ordering from a wholesaler, and more will be discussed. You will leave feeling confident, with foundational knowledge that you will grow over the course of the Institute. Recorded June 27, 2026 at Children's Institute 2026 in Schaumburg, Illinois. Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org. Theme song by Constant Companion
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Ci2026: Bookstore Policies for Free Expression
3d ago00:50:18Tap to summarizeWith pressure on bookstores increasing over their curation of books and events, it is essential to have clear policies that reflect your store's emphasis and values. Having a curation policy helps a store keep the team on the same page, explain curation decisions to customers, and work through disagreements within the staff and community. Led by ABFE's Associate Director Philomena Polefrone, this session will offer a structure to help you start articulating your store's processes and values. Attendees will leave with a draft they can continue developing when they return to their store. Recorded June 29, 2026 at Children's Institute 2026 in Schaumburg, Illinois. Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org. Theme song by Constant Companion
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Ci2026: Books, Gifts, and Events for Analog Customers
3d ago01:00:29Tap to summarizeAnalog is back! As more adults look to limit their screen time, they're rediscovering screen-free activities like reading, journaling, puzzling, and crafting. Curated "analog bags" — portable totes designed to encourage unplugging — are trending, and bookstores are perfectly positioned to become the go-to destination for filling them. This session will explore how to merchandise for the analog movement, handsell across categories, and create events that tap into the growing desire for offline connection and creativity. Recorded June 29, 2026 at Children's Institute 2026 in Schaumburg, Illinois. Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org. Theme song by Constant Companion
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Ci2026: Author(less) Events & Community Partnerships
3d ago01:01:06Tap to summarizeYou can still celebrate an author and have an incredible, fun event even if the author can't come to the store physically! This session will focus on authorless events, such as craft workshops, character meet-and-greets, scavenger hunts, zine-making workshops, cookbook dinners, and community partnerships. Learn to design crowd-pleasing, low-cost programming that doesn't rely on author visits. This session is perfect for stores that want steady community engagement with staff-led events. Recorded June 29, 2026 at Children's Institute 2026 in Schaumburg, Illinois. Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org. Theme song by Constant Companion
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Ci2026: Understanding Event ROI with Professional Booksellers School
5d ago00:52:13Tap to summarizeEvents can drive sales, build community, and strengthen your store's brand, but how do you know if an event is successful? This session will introduce practical ways to use ROI and key metrics to track and measure event success. You'll learn what data to gather before, during, and after events and how to interpret it to understand impact. We'll also explore how to evaluate your store's current event capacity, from staffing to sales potential, so you can make informed decisions about growth. You'll leave with a clearer framework for assessing performance and shaping an effective events strategy. Recorded June 29, 2026 at Children's Institute 2026 in Schaumburg, Illinois. Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org. Theme song by Constant Companion
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Ci2026: The Rise of Board and Activity Books
5d ago01:01:10Tap to summarizeChildren's books are experiencing growth, largely driven by the popularity of board books and activity-based formats such as sticker and coloring books. These formats are especially appealing to young readers and families looking for engaging, hands-on experiences with books. This session will explore strategies for incorporating board books and activity books into your store's inventory, merchandising, and programming. You'll leave with ideas for capitalizing on this growing segment of children's publishing and positioning your store to meet customer demand. Recorded June 28, 2026 at Children's Institute 2026 in Schaumburg, Illinois. Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org. Theme song by Constant Companion
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Ci2026: Rebuilding School Relationships Without Librarians
5d ago01:01:56Tap to summarizeMany children's bookstores partner with school librarians for book fairs, author visits, and summer reading programs. But as school districts face budget cuts — including the elimination of librarian positions — bookstores are left wondering how to sustain these important partnerships. This session will explore how to rethink and rebuild school relationships in the absence of a dedicated librarian. We'll discuss strategies for collaborating directly with administrators and teachers, navigating shifting responsibilities, and continuing to create meaningful events, even when school staff may not fully understand what goes into organizing them. Recorded June 29, 2026 at Children's Institute 2026 in Schaumburg, Illinois. Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org. Theme song by Constant Companion
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Ci2026: Photography Tips for Booksellers
5d ago01:19:38Tap to summarizeGreat marketing starts with great photos, and you don't need fancy equipment to get them. This hands-on workshop will teach you how to take better photos using just your smartphone. You'll learn how to shoot compelling book flat lays, staff portraits, event coverage, and beautiful shots of your store's interior and exterior. Then we'll practice our skills in guided group settings, where you will explore how perspective and creativity shape visual storytelling. You'll leave with new skills, resources, and a more confident eye behind the lens. Recorded June 27, 2026 at Children's Institute 2026 in Schaumburg, Illinois. Additional bookstore education resources can be found at www.bookweb.org. Theme song by Constant Companion
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Indies Introduce: Ben Reeves (Everything Was Beautiful And Nothing Hurt)
2w ago00:08:53Tap to summarizeABA's Indies Introduce interview series spotlights debut authors handpicked by booksellers from around the country. In each episode, a bookseller from the Indies Introduce panel interviews an author featured in the program to celebrate the release of their book. In this episode, Coco Zephir of An Unlikely Story in Plainville, MA interviews Ben Reeves, author of Everything Was Beautiful And Nothing Hurt, available now at your local independent bookstore. Theme song by Constant Companion
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