Latest news from The Bookseller

BA calls for Sunday Trading responses The BA is calling on its members to respond to the newly launched Department of Business, Innovation and Skills consultation on Sunday trading which runs until 16th September. The consultation will explore plans to give local authorities the power to allow large shops to open for longer on Sundays, to help them compete with online retailers. Responses can be sent to sunday.trading@bis.gsi.gov.uk.

AAP: April sales down 3.3% Publishers’ sales in the US fell 5.6% year-on-year to $3bn in the first third of 2015, according to the Association of American Publishers (AAP). The latest monthly AAP StatShot, covering April, put total revenues for publishers down 3.3% for the month compared to April 2014. The figure represents a shallower fall than the 6.6% drop seen in the "slow" first quarter for the year.

Bodleian Library launches children’s imprint Bodleian Library Publishing is launching a children's imprint with the aim of republishing “forgotten gems” and beautifully illustrated titles. The publisher will publish at least two titles per season under the Bodleian Children’s Books imprint, starting with Penguin’s Way and Whale’s Way, on the 18th September, both priced at £10.99. Written by US author Johanna Johnston and illustrated by Leonard Weisgard, the books were first published in the 1960s.

Hot Key buys Manning YA romance Hot Key Books has acquired a YA rom-com, set in London, by author and journalist Sarra Manning. London Belongs to Us follows Sunny and her friends as they cross London one night, chasing an errant boyfriend from Cyrstal Palace to Alexandra Palace. The story is a “love letter to being young, staying up all night and living in London”, said Manning. Hot Key editor Naomi Colthurst acquired the world rights from Karolina Sutton at Curtis Brown, and publication is set for summer 2016.

Animal kingdom picture book to Hodder Hodder Children’s Books, part of Hachette Children's, has acquired a 64-page picture book about the animal kingdom by zoologist and author Nicola Davies. The illustrator is Lorna Scobie. The deal for Diversity was brokered between Emma Layfield, picture book publisher at Hodder Children’s Books, Veronique Baxter at David Higham Associates (Davies’ agent) and Clare Wallace at Darley Anderson Children’s Book Agency (Scobie’s agent).

Jenny Bell dies Jenny Simpson, formerly Jenny Bell, who was The Bookseller's deputy editor until 2004, died on 4th August. She had been suffering from cancer. Bell worked at Hudsons in Birmingham before joining The Bookseller in 1981. She covered bookshop news, before becoming features editor and, in 1996, deputy editor. She left in 2004, becoming partner and editor-in-chief for her husband Michael Simpson's product innovation research agency, and bringing up their two sons in their home in Wargrave, Berkshire.

Miles Kelly announces book giveaway Essex-based Miles Kelly Publishing is giving away 600 books over the summer holidays as part of a campaign to keep children reading over the break. The company, which publishes non-fiction, fairy tale and novelty books, will give away 100 books every week for six weeks as part of its #GiveABook campaign. To win a book, an adult must nominate a child and say what book they would like them to receive via the campaign website.

LBC boxed set from Penguin Penguin is releasing a boxed set of its Little Black Classics set (3rd September, £80). The set will include all 80 of the titles that were released in February to celebrated Penguin’s 80th  anniversary, each priced at 80p and comprising of 64 pages. The list featured less well known titles by familiar authors including DH Lawrence, Plato, Jane Austen and Nietzsche. The set features the titles ordered by number in a black and white case with a quote from one of the books on the side.