​In addition to the Dorothy Briley lecture, this fall's event in Boston will include a special address in memory of the important work of Bill Teale. 

This year's inaugural Teale lecture features acclaimed translator, Helen Wang who has prepared the English language translations of Hans Christian Andersen Laureate Cao Wenxuan, including Bronze and Sunflowers, which won SCBWI's Marsh Award for Translation in 2017. She was also recognized with a 2023 Mildred E. Batchelder honor for her translation of Cao Wenxuan's Dragonfly Eyes. 

​In addition to her lyrical work as a translator of contemporary Chinese literature for young readers, Wang is an accomplished scholar of Chinese numismatics, former curator at the British Museum and currently Adjunct Researcher at Zhejiang University’s School of Art and Archaeology. She is a co-founder of the terrific Chinese Book for Young Readers website.  Read more about Wang in conversation with USBBY friend Cynthia Leitich Smith and on PaperRepublic.

​JOIN US IN BOSTON FOR THE IBBY REGIONAL

Many thanks to the Teale lecture committee, Miriam Martinez, Brenda Dales, Isaac Larsson, and Junko Yokota for their careful selection for this part of the Regional program as well as Christina Moorehead for her administrative support.

Bill Teale was a Professor of Education, University Scholar, an Director of the Center for Literacy the University of Illinois at Chicago, distinguished scholar in the field of children's literature, and past president of USBBY Patron Organization International Literacy Association (ILA). He is deeply missed. 

From wordless picture books, to graphic novels and photo-illustrated nonfiction, a panel of Award-Winning authors and artists will explore the growing possibilities in books for young readers. A visually rich program will open your eyes to the world of images. 

Jason Chin is an author and illustrator best known for his exploration of nature, science, and art. He has received the Caldecott Medal for Watercress by Andrea Wang (Holiday House) in 2022, and the 2018 Caldecott Honor for Grand Canyon (Roaring Brook).

LeUyen Pham has illustrated and written more than 120 books. She won a Caldecott Honor for Bear Came Along by Richard T. Morris (Little Brown) in 2020. 

Leonard Marcus is a curator, author and expert on English language children's literature. His renowned exhibits include The ABC of It at New York Public Library and the Kerlan Collection, and last year's Building Stories at the National Building Museum. 

David Wiesner is an acclaimed illustrator of illustrated and wordless books. He has won three Caldecott Medals for his picture books, including Tuesday (1991, Clarion), The Three Pigs (2001, Clarion), and Flotsam (2006, Clarion) and three Caldecott honors including Free Fall (1988, Harper Collins) Sector 7 (1999, Clarion) and Mr. Wuffles! (2013, Clarion).

Date: Saturday June 28 Time: 1:00 -2:00 pm EDT 
Location: Pennsylvania Convention Center, Room 115

Are you planning to celebrate the 2025 International Children's Book Day April 2?

Download our digital materials to decorate your event, share posts about it and tag IBBY: @ibby.international (Facebook & Instagram), @ibbyint (Twitter). #ICBD25

In 2025, International Children's Book Day (ICBD) is sponsored by IBBY-Netherlands and the poster is made by two Dutch creators of children’s books. The theme of the 2025 International Children's Book Day is The freedom of imagination, and the motto is the last sentence of the poem ‘The Language of Pictures’:

‘Make pictures for my poem, and please feel free: these words belong to you even though they came from me.’





​The poem comes from the illustrated poetry collection Alle wensen van de wereld (2021) by Rian Visser and illustrator Janneke Ipenburg. This book was awarded a Zilveren Griffel in the Netherlands and the Gouden Poëziemedaille (Gold Poetry Medal) in Belgium.

The Freedom of Imagination

In high-quality children’s books, the reader’s imagination is kindled and developed. These books help children to explore their imagination, to develop their creativity and to see the world in a new way. Good books invite readers to interpret the words for themselves, making the story their own.

You can download lesson suggestions (in English and Dutch) based on the theme for three different age groups (ages 4–6, 6–9, and 9–14) on the IBBY-Netherlands website.

International Drawing Competition

Make a drawing, painting or some other kind of art based on the poem ‘The Language of Pictures’. Then take a photograph of your art and (optionally) a photograph of yourself with your artwork and email it to your national IBBY section or directly to IBBY-Netherlands: ibby.secretariaat@gmail.com.

All the children around the world who are taking part in International Children’s Book Day are invited to join in! IBBY-Netherlands will show all the entries on their website and select the winners, who will be rewarded with a package of books for their school. This virtual exhibition is our way of celebrating the freedom of imagination.

The Language of Pictures
Rian Visser
Translation: Laura Watkinson​

Can you draw pictures
for the words,
for the things I say?
Then draw
part of the picture,
cold,
wind,
a lump in your throat
or tough luck,
draw a cough,
a sigh,
the scent of fresh bread,
time,
a moment,
the beginning or the end
of a plan,
draw the place wherever,
the place where never,
the place where soon
something is going to happen,
draw the pain of a push,
the taste of the sea.
There is so much
that I want to see,
like love,
one day,
and maybe for me.
Make pictures
for my poem,
and please feel free:
these words
belong to you
even though they came from me.

Learn about considerations informing their craft in creating stories in both Spanish and English and discover forthcoming titles, from the acclaimed Pam Muñoz Ryan, , bilingual advocate Monica Brown, and author Violet Duncan
About the speakers: 

Monica Brown, Ph.D. is the Peruvian-American author of many award-winning multicultural books for children that have garnered multiple starred reviews and awards, and are available in a dozen languages. Her books include biographies of writers, musicians, and politicians from throughout Latin America. She writes the Lola Levine series (Little Brown Young Readers), her newest book is Doña Fela's Dream: The Story of Puerto Rico's First Female Mayor (Hachette Book Group) and she has books on musicians like Celia Cruz (My Name is Celia/Me llamo Celia: The Life of Celia Cruz/la vida de Celia Cruz, Cooper Square) and Tito Puente (Tito Puente, Mambo King/Tito Puente, Rey del Mambo, HarperCollins) authors such as Pablo Neruda (Henry Holt) Pablo Neruda: Poet of the People / Poeta del pueblo and Gabriela Garcia Marquez (My Name is Gabito / Me llamo Gabito: The Life of Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Cooper Square), and Sharuko: El Arqueólogo Peruano/ Peruvian Archaeologist (Lee & Low) about the first Peruvian Indigenous archeologist, Waiting for the Biblioburro/Esperando al Biblioburro (Tricycle), about a donkey book mobile in Colombia, and El Cuarto Turquesa/The Turquoise Room (Lee & Low).

Violet Duncan is the author of the National Book Award Finalist Buffalo Dreamer (Penguin/Random House). She has toured nationally and internationally as an author, educator, dancer, and storyteller, and facilitates workshops to promote spiritual wellness and cultural education across the globe. She is currently the Indigenous Cultural Advisor at the Tempe Center for the Arts, where she aims to create space for a permanent program of Indigenous performance and practice. 
.
Pam Muñoz Ryan is a multi-award-winning author, who is the most recent recipient of the prestigious ALSC Legacy Award. El Niño (Scholastic), which will be simultaneously published in English and Spanish in May 2025, is an adventure story about a young swimmer who’s navigating grief and family relationships in the wake of his sister’s death. After Kai discovers a book of his sister’s about an underwater realm and a mysterious place called the Library of Despair and Sorrow, details from the story begin to appear in his own life: dolphin pods, imposing rock towers, unusual sea creatures, and even Cali’s beloved bracelet. As myth and reality collide, El Niño unleashes its fury, and Kai is swept up in a storm of events that will change his understanding of love, death, grief, and how best to honor those we’ve lost.

Following the program, the 2025 Outstanding International Books (OIB) will be announced.

​Presented by the United States Board of Books for Young People (USBBY) the U.S. section of the International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), a division of the American Library Association (ALA).

 
If you've ever been to an IBBY Regional, you have experienced the special atmosphere of fellowship, learning and pushing the borders and horizons of children's literature across the globe those events inspire. While planning for Boston in November 2025, we want to look ahead to the next biennial event.

Read more about the proposal and conference planning process. Applications received by June 15, 2025 will be considered at the midyear board meeting. 

This is an unparalleled opportunity to  bring world class speakers to your campus and community, as well as the showcasing your local area to a expert body of children's literature scholars and practitioners.

Contact USBBY President Wendy Stephens with any preliminary questions.