<![CDATA[USBBY - November 2019]]>

<![CDATA[USBBY - November 2019]]>Tue, 03 Mar 2026 09:02:17 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[THE “MORAL OBLIGATION” OF HOPE]]>Sat, 16 Nov 2019 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.usbby.org/november-2019/the-moral-obligation-of-hope

In her riveting speech as the Briley Lecture honoree at the 13th Biennial USBBY Regional Conference (Oct 2019,) Nicola Davies succinctly and resolutely reminded all present that, “Despair is a luxury. Hope is a moral obligation.”

The following issue of Bridges highlights moments from the recent conference, as well as activities throughout USBBY and IBBY over the past three months, that offer the entire children’s literature community avenues by which to exercise the imperative of hope.

]]><![CDATA[HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE CONFERENCE - MAKING CONNECTIONS]]>Fri, 15 Nov 2019 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.usbby.org/november-2019/highlights-from-the-conference-making-connections

Attendees past and present report that its intimate size stands out as one of the main draws when deciding to go the Regional Conference.

Poster sessions, breakout sessions, general sessions, meals and multiple author/illustrator signing opportunities provide all conference-goers near endless opportunities to connect. Invariably these connections lead to inspiration and collaboration and spark new ideas about what’s possible, once attendees return home. Attendance this year included visitors from all over the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, Indonesia, and more!

The small setting also allows people to have lunch or dinner or just a chat with some of their favorite authors and illustrators from around the country and world.

With special thanks to Ellen Myrick of Publishers Spotlight and KidLit TV, click on the following links to hear from just some of the many featured authors and illustrators:

Not only did all of the guest authors and illustrators speak to the theme of the conference, they also spoke of their own connections to each other’s work or to their connections to books and book people in general. (Check out the February 2020 issue of Bridges for more on this from guest poster Cynthia Leitich Smith.)

Attendees also got an opportunity to connect with international children’s books. Book displays include books from the 2019 IBBY Selection of Outstanding Books for Children and Young People with Disabilities, the 2018 and 2019 Outstanding International Books list selections, the IBBY Honour List, and more.

Finally, regarding the 2019 Regional Conference, endless appreciation for the work of conference organizers and coordinators Janet Wong, Marion Rocco, Sylvia Vardell, and Isaac Larison for putting together a magnificent experience. Additional appreciation to Christina Hoover Moorehead for all of her administrative work and to Ralph Abbott for providing ALL of the conference photos included in this post.

]]><![CDATA[BOOKS IN ACTION - LITERACY ACTIVITIES AND COLLABORATIONS AROUND THE WORLD]]>Thu, 14 Nov 2019 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.usbby.org/november-2019/books-in-action-literacy-activities-and-collaborations-around-the-world

International Illustration Showcases
One of the features of the Regional Conference is the effort to encourage more representation of and participation by U.S. illustrators throughout international illustration showcases and competitions. USBBY 8-person Illustration Committee collects information about these competitions, like the Bologna Book Fair and the Nami Island Concours, in order to be able to post the information encourage and facilitate applications from U.S. illustrators. USBBY’s own Brenda Dales was in Bratislava for the Biennial of Illustration 2019 Awards, which ran concurrently with our Regional Conference, to foster these efforts, as well.

Speaking of illustation, it’s thrilling and encouraging to see that so many titles on the 2019 New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children’s Books list all have international roots, connections, accolades or feature friends of USBBY, (like Regional Conference guest, Christian Robinson.)

ILA’s Children’s Rights to Read
In 2018, the International Literacy Association (ILA) launched a new initiative aimed at ensuring that every child has access to the education, opportunities, and resources needed to read. Children’s Rights to Read—and its 10 fundamental rights—frames reading as an equity and social justice issue.

USBBY members were invited to participate in finding young people throughout their communities who would be able to translate and read the rights for a video which ILA premiered at its annual conference in early October of 2019. View the resulting video here.

]]><![CDATA[LOOKING AHEAD AND GETTING INVOLVED]]>Wed, 13 Nov 2019 08:00:00 GMThttps://www.usbby.org/november-2019/looking-ahead-and-getting-involved

Next Conferences
Attending NCTE in Baltimore? The USBBY session at the National Council of Teachers of English Convention will be held on Friday, November 22 from 11:00-12:15 in Room 307 of the Baltimore Convention Center. The panel presentation “Imagination and Inquiry: Celebrating and Honoring International Stories for Children and Adolescents” will feature authors Rebecca Balcarcel and Alexandria Giardino and illustrator John Parra.

Attending ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia? Make sure to be at the USBBY session on Friday night, Jan 24, from 8:00-10:00 p.m., for the announcement of the 2020 Outstanding International Books list and corresponding book talk.
In addition, authors Victoria Jamieson and Omar Mohammed will discuss the forthcoming middle grade graphic novel, When Stars Are Scattered, which describes Mohamed’s experience growing up in a Somali refugee camp.

Sustainable Development Goals Book Club
The list of books recommended for SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation, is now online at https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sdgbookclub/ , which is also provided as a link on the IBBY website.

USBBY members are encouraged to suggest titles dealing with SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, via this Google Form. Members can also think about and submit suggestions for books for future SDGs, as well. Please note the affiliation with USBBY/IBBY when so doing.

If members have set up book clubs for these SDGs, please let USBBY know, so we can share with the UN on the SDG Book Club blog.

State Ambassador Opportunities
The State Ambassador meeting at Regional Conference always presents an opportunity to trade ideas, spark conversation, deliberate about best practices and effective next steps, see each other in person - and to welcome new potential ambassadors into the mix. This year was no exception, and we are thrilled to welcome new ambassadors from Connecticut and Alaska (!) into the fold!
State Ambassadors serve as the torchbearers of USBBY, the links to their communities.
There are several states where the ambassador seat is currently open, including Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, and Wyoming. Also, even states that already have one can have more.
Please contact Kathy Short at shortk@u.arizona.edu and/or Evelyn Freeman at freeman.5@osu.edu to find out more about serving as a State Ambassador.

37th IBBY World Congress - Call for Papers
Registration for the 37th IBBY World Congress, September 5-7, 2020 in Moscow, is now open!
One can access information about submissions, topics, and the conference in general via the site, www.ibbycongress2020.org .
Key dates:

01.08.2019 Registration/Abstract submission opens
01.09.2019 Fee payment begins
23.12.2019 Abstract submission deadline
27.01.2020 Notification of acceptance
30.03.2020 Early Bird deadline
10.04.2020 Presenter registration deadline

USBBY in 2021
USBBY is so happy to report to you that the IBBY Executive Committee voted to approve USBBY as the sponsor for the 2021 International Children's Book Day poster and accompanying information!
Margarita Engle, and illustrator, Roger Mello will create the poster with the theme "The Music of Words" which is also the theme of our 2021 IBBY Regional Conference in Nashville, October 15-17, 2021!
(Look closely at the flyer, and you’ll see OIB titles on the neck of the guitar.)
There were five application submitted by five national sections. USBBY feels very fortunate to have been selected for a fourth time since the inception of the ICBD and credit the strength of our poster collaborators, Margarita and Roger, as the significant part of our being selected. This adds another bit of excitement leading up to our conference in Nashville, since the poster will be sent out in October 2020 and used throughout the world beginning on Hans Christian Anderson's birthday on April 2, including displays in schools and libraries throughout the U.S. for the following eight months.

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