Books-A-Million! CEO Terry Finley Talks Children’s Literacy
2015
From September 13–19, when you stop by Books-A-Million to pick up some great new reads, you’ll be able to give to RIF at the register! We asked their CEO, Terry Finley, about what children’s literacy means to Books-A-Million and what trends they see in the bookselling industry right now.
Why has Books-a-Million chosen to support children’s literacy as a priority issue?
We value reading and literacy as if it were our job – because it is. One the greatest gifts you receive as a book seller is when you see reading make a difference to a child. When a child’s eyes light up and you see their imagination going it puts a smile on your face. For a child, reading helps them discover who they are as a person. We have a responsibility to make a difference and help those children who need it the most.
As one of the largest book retailers, what are some of the trends you are seeing in the industry?
As we navigate the digital era, one of the constants is that children’s book sales are continuing to grow steadily as a new generation of parents embraces the physical book as the best way to bond with and educate their kids. These young “readers” have then fueled the incredible rise of teen and tween literature in recent years.
Another major trend is the influence of media and social media in driving the sales of physical books. The bestseller lists are consistently a reflection of the broader media environment, from movies, to video games, to social media personalities and more.
Do you have any favorite children’s books? Did you have a favorite book as a child?
We have a wonderful curated selection in our stores that we call “50 Books To Read Before You’re 5”. As a parent my favorite from this assortment is Margaret Wise Brown’s Goodnight Moon. I love the theatricality of the book and “performed “ it for my young children at countless times at bedtime. As a child I was a huge fan of the Hardy Boys series and the seemingly never-ending number of stories in the series. I devoured these.
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