The two American Booksellers for Free Expression children's book art auctions that were held in conjunction with BookExpo America raised almost $60,000 to defend the free speech rights of kids, Bookselling This Week reported. More than 170 pieces were sold at the May 26 auction at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York and during an online auction that concluded June 8. The auction income at the Hyatt was also generated from ticket sales and sponsorship by the Random House Children's Group.
"We are extremely grateful to the artists who contributed such beautiful work, to Random House Children's Group, and to everyone whose bids made our auctions so successful," said ABFE director Chris Finan regarding the auctions, which raised funds for the Kids' Right to Read Project and Banned Books Week.
