Celebrate the ALA Youth Book Awards Sunday 6/28/20

Although this year's ALA Annual Conference was canceled for in-person attendance (many of you might have been in Chicago right now in attendance!), that hasn't stopped the virtual conference that has been happening this week.

Many of the special moments for youth librarians each year revolve around the celebrations of winning and honored book creators at the Newbery/Caldecott/Legacy banquet; the Coretta Scott King breakfast, the Pura Belpre celebración, and many other award ceremonies. These gala affairs are a marvelous celebration of the art and writing talents of so many of our children's literature community.

But don't despair! This year, you can be part of the fun right from home! Read on....

"The American Library Association (ALA) is offering an exciting new free all-day virtual event celebrating the winners of several of its major book awards, including the esteemed Newbery and Caldecott medals, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, the Printz Award, and the Stonewall youth and adult Book Awards.

Beginning at 9 a.m. CT on Sunday, June 28, 2020, on ALA’s YouTube channel, The ALA Book Award Celebration will serve as an opportunity for the association to showcase its book award celebrations that traditionally take place during the ALA Annual Conference. This is a free event that highlights youth and adult selections administered by ALA units, division, and round tables does not require registration. 

ALA’s Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), Booklist Magazine, Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services, and Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), along with Belpré Award co-sponsor, The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA) have organized a brand new virtual celebration to honor award winning authors, illustrators, publishers, and producers.

Pre-recorded videos from book award winners will premiere for the first time throughout the day, according to the times designated by the schedule below. Viewers can watch live and share comments in chat, or view event videos on ALA’s YouTube channel soon after their premiere.

10:30 a.m. CT -  Batchelder, Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media, Geisel and Sibert Awards
Noon CT  - Stonewall Book Awards
2 p.m. CT - Belpré Celebración
3:30 p.m. CT - Odyssey Award Ceremony
5 p.m. CT -  Printz Award Ceremony
7 p.m. CT - Newbery and Caldecott Medals and Children’s Literature Legacy Award Virtual Banquet

Also, the event will highlight a variety of award-winning books throughout the day including winning selections from the Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature, Sydney Taylor Book Award, and the American Indian Youth Literature Award .

Book lovers from around the world are expected to participate and are encouraged to hold watch parties and post photos and videos on social media with the hashtag #TheBookAwardCelebration. Viewer social media posts will be automatically entered into giveaways taking place during the celebration.

To learn more about the event and participating authors, illustrators, and producers, please follow the hashtag #TheBookAwardCelebration on Twitter."

Full details are here.