Free Comic Book Day is TODAY and Officially Helps Kick Off Children's Book Week 2015

Yup - that is correct. Comic book stores around the US today will be helping to launch Children's Book Week for 2015 - officially - and not just by reminding you. They've gotten involved with the Children's Literacy Council and other reading advocate organizations for kids and are ready to encourage young readers (and would-be-readers) of all ages. The official Free Comic Book Day team and graphic novel artists and writers from all over have been preparing events BEYOND free comic book day  - to take place THROUGHOUT Children's Book Week  - to help promote reading, with comics as a launch pad to reading-success.

2015 preview of Labyrinth comic from the Boom Studios Anthology to be given away

From FreeComicBookDay:

On May 2, comic book stores will kick off Children's Book Week (May 4-10, 2015), the annual celebration of books for young people and the joy of reading, by giving away over two million comics to younger readers on Free Comic Book Day! 

With over two dozen kid -friendly titles to choose from, there's a free comic book available to help every young reader get into the spirit of Children's Book Week which will be celebrated the following week with more fun, book-themed events, appearances from beloved children’s book authors and illustrators, and more in all fifty states. 

Comics’ industry leaders Diamond Comic Distributors and Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) are partnering with Every Child a Reader and the Children's Book Council to bring greater focus to what comics offer kids, with cross-industry promotions and targeted resources for parents & educators during Children’s Book Week. In addition to Free Comic Book Day, the organizations will partner with authors, publishers, and comics specialty and book retailers to create Children's Book Week events spotlighting comics and the joy of reading at locations all over the United States! 

Jennifer L. Holm, three-time Newbery Honoree and CBLDF board member says, "When I was a child, my love of reading started with comic books. Today, as a comics creator myself, and as a mom, I'm excited by how much extraordinary storytelling is happening for young people in comics. Children's Book Week is a wonderful time for people to come together and share the love of reading comics with kids everywhere!"“Comics and graphic novels are incredible tools for fostering a love of reading in children, and transmit valuable literacy skills to readers of all levels. We are delighted to partner with Free Comic Book Day to share the joy of comics with kids nationwide this Children’s Book Week,” says Nicole Deming, interim director of the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader. 

“On behalf of comic shops nationwide that promote reading in their communities on Free Comic Book Day and all year round, and the writers, artists and publishers creating a fantastic array of children’s comics today, we welcome this opportunity to collaborate with Children’s Book Week and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund,” added Roger Fletcher, Diamond VP Sales & Marketing.

The kid-friendly FREE comics available this year will be more in number than usual and it's recommended parents take their kids and load up those arms!

What usually happens at comic book stores participating in Free Comic Book Day?

All the ones I've been to have had:

• costumed characters
• dressing up for guests (& contests)
• props and displays for photo ops (and general fun)
• artists signing comic books and special prints
• food!
• giveaways and raffles
• special appearances by guests
• art lessons
• FREE COMIC BOOKS!

Here's what our local store is doing:

Don't worry about breakfast, you can buy something delicious at one of the amazing gourmet food trucks, and Honu Coffee will be taking your order while you wait in line!

Did we mention the Stormtroopers, Ewoks, R2D2 and the LANDSPEEDER, not to mention Batman, Batgirl, Joker, and who knows what other characters might decide to stop by! In fact, dress to impress, and enter our SUPER COOL all ages COSTUME CONTEST sponsored by DK Publishing and LEGO!

Games, prizes, balloons, a rockin cool BINGO game, a DJ, gaming demos, free art lessons...SO much to do! Be sure you're following us on Twitter, for our giveaway game, where we will be giving away some amazing prize packages to the lucky winners.

And, OH YEAH: don't forget the comics. Miles and miles of free comics!

Get here early, stay all day!!! JUST BE THERE!

For fairy tale folk there are a few offerings in the free category, including a special Labyrinth comic (which you can see a preview page of in this post) and for slightly older kids, there's Steampunk Goldilocks. There are a variety of other kids fantasy too, though, sporting the prince, princess and monster motifs common to what people think of as fairy tales today as well though, so check them all out (and hey - if you don't like what you ended up with, donate them!)

Also DK are an official sponsor of Free Comic Book Day for 2015!

DK have signed on to sponsor and contribute toward the marketing and promotion of Free Comic Book Day (FCBD), which takes places Saturday May 2^nd at participating comic book specialty shops across the US, Canada, and worldwide. DK will serve as a supporter of Free Comic Book Day offering a special edition comic book along with the opportunity to win prizes as they help shape and enrich the comic fans’ experience of the event.

DK will offer FCBD Fans the opportunity to win various graphic novels, comics, activity books, and additional prizes through contests hosted on the Free Comic Book Day Facebook page during April through July. 

There's a list of bona-fide kid-friendly comic book stores by state HERE, but seeing our local  book store isn't on there yet it definitely fits the bill, it's not a complete list. Although not all comic book stores participate, most seem to, so check out yours - and remember, the earlier you get there, the more likely you are to get the freebies you want the most...

Happy reading!