At ABC, we believe in great children's books.

We also believe in the power of independent business, and we know that it takes more than simple belief to run a successful bookstore. It takes knowledge, resources, smart decision-making, and support to stay competitive in today's aggressive retail climate. Since 1985, ABC has been making independent booksellers stronger through its programs, communication tools, and strategic alliances. ABC connects booksellers, publishers, authors, illustrators, and other book professionals all over the country, and provides a virtual space for ideas and community. Through ABC booksellers speak with one voice to keep independent children's bookselling strong.

At ABC, we take children's books seriously!

You can't go wrong with an ABC membership.

Whether you're joining for the community, the materials, the marketing opportunity, the networking, or to stay informed about what's going on in the children's books industry, everyone gets more than their money's worth with ABC!

Join this virtual on-line community, and catch up on the latest news, respond to industry questions, and tap other booksellers for title ideas and reviews in our active e-mail forum. Open to all ABC members. For non-promotional purposes only.

Bookstore members get up to 5,000 free copies of this beautiful, full-color, imprintable consumer catalog each fall to give away to their customers. The perfect tool to build your children's business, elevate holiday sales, educate general staff, and to use as a foundation for local bookfairs. Useful all year round, and worth many times the price of membership!

ABC works with our association partners The American Booksellers Association (ABA), and The Children's Book Council (CBC) to produce ongoing education and networking opportunities at Book Expo America (BEA), the premier publishing industry tradeshow every year. Highlights include an entire day of business education for booksellers, a New Voices luncheon to introduce the best new authors and projects of our publisher members, and the immensely popular Evening With Children's Booksellers Dinner and Silent Auction.

Get access to the best national network for the children's retail book industry. Whether you are a store, publisher, author, publicist, or media representative, the ABC directory is an indispensable tool. Publisher, Associate and Author/Illustrator members may request unlimited copies of the ABC mailing list as a part of their membership.

ABC broadcasts two monthly e-newsletters full of the latest programming and information to connect members and help them build their businesses. Advertising in the ABC newsletters is a cost-effective way to reach key players in the children's book industry.

Each spring, ABC produces a literacy campaign featuring an illustration from a new book from one of our publisher members. ABC prints 25,000 full-color posters and other related materials, which are distributed to members to share with their local communities.

Bookstore members participate in the nomination and selection process of ABC's two national book awards, and reap the benefits in the form of bookmarks, press materials, and in-store promotions to generate great attention.

Members have free listings on the ABC website, and stores are listed by state. In 2007, the ABC website will undergo a redesign to include store profiles, and sponsor highlights.

One member alone cannot accomplish what hundreds of members can do together!
Join ABC today!

Bookstore (Full Voting Membership) - $85.00 per year
Open to all independent bookstores, and to other types of independent retail stores that sell a significant quantity of children's books. Full voting membership, entitled to all benefits and materials, including newsletters, posters, bookmarks, and membership in the list serv. In addition, store members may order up to 5,000 annual ABC Best Books for Children Catalogs for free. (Custom imprinting and shipping not included.)

Download a bookstore membership application.

Publisher Membership* - (Non-voting Membership) - $200/$500/$1,000 per year
Open to all children's book publishers who are engaged in the active production and sales of wholesale children's books. This membership category has three levels with corresponding benefits. Download a PDF explanation of the ABC Publisher Membership program.

*For the purposes of ABC membership, a Publisher is defined as a business entity with at least six books in print and a printed catalog. All books must be barcode and ISBN-13 compliant, and available through regular wholesale distribution channels. Eligibility for this membership category is at ABC's discretion. Organizations that do not meet these criteria may still join ABC as an Associate or as Author/Illustrator/Self-Publisher members.

Download a publisher membership application.

Download PDF's of these related ABC programs for publishers:
The 2007 New Voices Program
2007 ABC e-newsletter Advertising Program

Associate Member (Non-voting Membership) - $85.00 per year
Open to non-retailers, wholesalers, non-book vendors, librarians, members of the press, sales representatives, book reviewers, and other children's publishing professionals. Non-voting membership entitled to all benefits and materials, including newsletters, samples of posters, bookmarks, the ABC catalog, and membership in the list serv. In addition, associate members may request unlimited sets of ABC mailing labels throughout the year.

Download a associate membership application.

Author/Illustrator, Self-Publisher, Publisher Rep/Literary Agent (Non-voting Membership) - $50.00 per year
Open to authors, illustrators, and other individuals involved in the artistic creation of children's books, as well as their agents and private publicists. Non-voting membership entitled to all benefits and materials, including newsletters, samples of posters, bookmarks, the ABC catalog, and membership in the list serv. In addition, A/I members may request unlimited sets of ABC mailing labels throughout the year.

Download a author/illustrator membership application.

Do more! Become a Sponsor Member!
Want to support all of ABC's good work? Check the $200 or $500 sponsor box on your application, and put your money to work to keep independent children's bookselling strong!

Please note: ABC dues are not deductible as a charitable contribution for federal income tax purposes, but may be deductible as a business expense.

ABC is a 501(c)-6 non-profit trade association which is governed by a Board of Directors made up of seven bookseller members, and two non-voting publisher advisors. Click here for the 2006-2007 Board of Directors. ABC uses a Mission Statement and a Policy Governance Model to guide its operating structure. To download the most recent Mission Statement and ABC Governance Policy, click here.