September 6, 2006
Contact: Josh Golin, Campaign for a Commercial-Free
Childhood (617-896-9369;
josh<at>commercialfreechildhood.org)
For immediate release
“Keep Commercials Out of Children’s Books!”
A New Campaign from CCFC and the Association of Booksellers
for Children
“Keep commercials out of children’s
books!” That’s the message the Campaign for a Commercial-Free
Childhood (CCFC) and the
Association of Booksellers for Children (ABC) are sending
Running Press, publisher of Cathy’s Book: If Found
Call (650) 226-8233, the first young adult novel to
include product placement. The book, scheduled for
publication this fall, will incorporate Cover Girl brand
makeup into its plot for promotional purposes. CCFC and ABC
have launched a campaign to urge Running Press, an imprint of
Perseus Books, to remove advertising from the novel.
“Children’s books have always been a
refuge from commercials,” said CCFC’s Dr. Susan Linn, author
of Consuming Kids. “If we let this go unchallenged,
books--like television, movies and videogames—will become
vehicles for pushing products on children. And the last thing
young girls need is a cosmetics ad disguised as a novel.”
CCFC has initiated an email campaign
urging concerned parents and book-lovers to send letters to
Running Press demanding that the product placement be removed
before Cathy’s Book is published. ABC members will make petitions available
in their bookstores.
“As a group, children’s booksellers care
deeply about their mission to provide the best possible books
for the children and families,” said ABC Executive Director
Kristen McLean. “They know that the right book can play an
important role in shaping the ideas of a young reader in an
increasingly complex world. Books are an incredibly personal
medium, and introducing product placement into a children’s
book is a troubling trend that will open up the door to
advertisers hungry for an effective way to reach new and
impressionable consumers.”
Product placement is increasingly used to
target children in television, films and videogames. It’s
particularly insidious because products are seamlessly
integrated into content.
“The only way to avoid product placement
in electronic media is to limit children’s access,” said Dr.
Linn. “Should we expect parents to limit reading as well?”
ask your local bookstore to join the campaign by displaying
one of our petitions.
Take Action: Tell Running Press to Remove all
Product Placement from Cathy's Book
