Barnes & Noble Celebrates Black History Month with Free Storytime Events & Promotions

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS), one of the nation's largest booksellers and the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced it will celebrate Black History Month with special Storytime events and promotions recognizing the significant contributions by African-Americans to the world's social, political and economic development. Barnes & Noble stores nationwide will host events throughout the month featuring a reading of Henry's Freedom Box and other Black History Month-themed picture books, with booksellers and prominent members of the local African-American community serving as guest storytellers*.

Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine and illustrated by Kadir Nelson is a stirring, dramatic story of a slave who mails himself to freedom. Additional titles that may be read include: Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew up to Become Malcolm X; We Shall Overcome: The Story of Song; or the NOOK Book Carter G. Woodson: Black History Pioneer. The festivities will also include fun, educational activities and treats.

Beginning January 31 and throughout Black History Month, all stores will feature displays of books for all ages, including picture books and engaging nonfiction for young readers, with relevant titles for each age group. For adults, the display will include: I'll Take You There: Mavis Staples, the Staple Singers, and the March up Freedom's Highway by Greg Kot; Hair Story: Untangling the Roots of Black Hair in America by Ayana Bird; Black Against Empire: The History and Politics of the Black Panther Party by Joshua Bloom; 12 Years a Slave by Solomon Northup (originally published in 1853); and March, Book 1 by John Lewis. The Children's Department will feature a History Every Kid Should Know display, including: Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Doreen Rappaport; Gifted Hands, Kids Edition: The Ben Carson Story by Gregg Lewis; Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew up to Become Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz; and How Did Barack Obama Make History? by Jane A. Schott.

In addition, Barnes & Noble stores will highlight the artwork of acclaimed African-American artist LaShun Beal on an exclusive, specially priced signature tote bag, and on signs in stores and graphics on BN.com. The website will also promote relevant NOOK Books and books for children, teens and adults, CDs and DVDs that honor the Black American experience at great values. To discover more, visit www.bn.com/black-history-month.

"Black History Month Storytime offers children and families a way to celebrate reading and our shared experience of African-American history through stories and fun activities," said Sarah DiFrancesco, Vice President of Business Development for Barnes & Noble. "We're also encouraging stores to partner with local organizations to create additional Black History Month programming for adults and families."

Barnes & Noble Storytimes are free and open to the public. For more information on all Black History Month event times and locations, visit the Barnes & Noble Store Locator.

*Subject to availability of local celebrities. Guests will vary by store.

About Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE:BKS) is a Fortune 500 company and the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products. The company operates 673 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web's largest e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com). Its NOOK Media LLC subsidiary is a leader in the emerging digital reading and digital education markets. The NOOK digital business offers award-winning NOOK products and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store (www.nook.com), while Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC operates 695 bookstores serving over 4.6 million students and faculty members at colleges and universities across the United States. Barnes & Noble is proud to be named a J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Customer Service Champion and is only one of 50 U.S. companies so named. Barnes & Noble.com is ranked the number one online retailer in customer satisfaction in the book, music and video category and a Top 10 online retailer overall in customer satisfaction according to ForeSee E-Retail Satisfaction Index (Spring Top 100 Edition).

General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained via the Internet by visiting the company's corporate website: www.barnesandnobleinc.com.