On Friday, June 11, the Pulitzer Prize Committee announced its 2021 winners. PRH had several finalists, and we repost the PRH Prize-winners from prior years.

Bookstore Romance Day is a day designed to give independent bookstores an opportunity to celebrate Romance fiction—its books, readers, and writers—and to strengthen the relationships between bookstores and the Romance community. (https://bookstoreromanceday.org/) 2021 marks the third year of this annual celebration.

The start of a new school year can be a source of stress for both parents and kids. But research shows that it’s moms who have the hardest time emotionally when school starts. (healthline.com) Schedules, meal-planning, and helping to manage their children’s anxieties contribute to a tough re-entry for some parents. 

After decades of public denial, the Pentagon now grudgingly acknowledges unidentified aerial phenomena (UFOs) exist. CBS’s “Sixty Minutes” reports that a U.S. Senate intelligence committee has ordered the director of national intelligence and the secretary of defense to deliver a report on the mysterious sightings by next month.

The impact of media-based book clubs has long been a powerful seller of books, and currently Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine Book Club and Jenna Bush Hager’s “Today Show” Book Club are moving books up the charts.

As consumers grapple with a potential fourth wave of COVID-19 and vaccinations ramp up *just* faster than variants are overtaking certain parts of the country, it’s also time for market to begin to see books on the subject. Larry Wright’s A PLAGUE YEAR goes on sale in early June, and Nina Burleigh’s VIRUS hits shelves even sooner. Other books about epidemics, pandemics, and diseases may see sales increases as they did early in the COVID-19 pandemic.

The number of cyclists/bike riders in the U.S. has increased over the past three years from around 43 million to 47.5 million in 2017 (statista.com). With the Tour de France coming up in late June, cyclists may be more enthusiastic than ever. This title collection includes practical, inspirational, and historical titles about the sport. 

At a time when all Americans are looking for a better America, it’s useful to look to the past to remind ourselves of what earlier Americans thought about, fought for, and were motivated to accomplish. Several title lists can help booksellers curate thoughtful and enlightening title collections for promotions.

“The flowers are blooming, the birds are serenading, and the house still feels like it’s stuck with winter blues. Spring cleaning is a tradition that allows us to freshen up our homes and get a head start on the often hectic seasons of spring and summer. It can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be difficult.” (The Spruce)

Bring on the celebration!

Each June in the USA and around the world, celebrations of LGBTQ Month include parades, picnics, parties, workshops, symposia and concerts, and Pride Month events attract millions of participants. As ever, PRH and its distributed clients have a multitude of books to recognize the impact that LGBTQ individuals have had on history locally, nationally, and internationally, including Fiction and Non-Fiction.

In May, Americans pay tribute to generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success. At no time have these Americans needed to see the country acknowledge and celebrate the rich heritages thousands of years old and the people who have shaped United States history. 

Asian-Americans are the nation’s fastest-growing racial group, and for the last year have suffered considerably in an ever-present racist atmosphere. Encourage booksellers to show their support more than ever with a variety of ideas for promotion during this holiday.

“On June 19, 1865, Union Army Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger rode into Galveston, Texas, and told slaves of their emancipation. That day came more than two years after President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863. While the holiday was informally commemorated in later years, Texas became the first state to make it a state holiday in 1980. Last year, numerous states, cities and colleges across the US moved to recognize it as an official holiday.” (CNN)

As more companies designate Juneteenth an official work holiday, and the work of racial reckoning is at the forefront of our national priorities, Juneteenth becomes a more recognized historical celebration. Help booksellers help their customers understand this holiday with fiction and non-fiction that shines a light on the past and present.

Illustration: news.crunchbase.com