USBBY President and former OIB committee member, Evelyn Freeman, speaks to the imperative role international books can play in children's lives right now in her guest post for the Children's Literature Assembly blog.

Freeman writes:
During this time when children everywhere are experiencing the global pandemic, sharing and experiencing stories across cultures help guide young readers towards realizing the similarities that unite us while recognizing and valuing our unique differences.

Read her reflections, and those of OIB committee member, Deanna Day-Wiff, via this link.

​“Whenever I return from trips to Silk Road countries, I’m always reminded of how much humanity is alike, rather than different,” shares author Meghan Nuttall Sayres as she recounts the recent journey she and UK-based author and playwright Jamila Gavin took through the Caucasus, being hosted by regional IBBY members, meeting nationally celebrated children’s authors, and learning about local children’s books programs.
 

Though in-person programs for International Children's Book Day could not take place this year, the celebration certainly could. Several resourceful USBBY members came up with ways to facilitate virtual activities and engagement, and authors and illustrators and IBBY members from around the world read and recorded the ICBD message in multiple languages.  Click here to access the message being read  in over a dozen languages!

 In case you missed it, please follow this link to watch all of the award announcements.

USBBY would like to extend a very special thank you and recognition to the outstanding team who chose our very own Jacqueline Woodson as the United States nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen Award - Laretta Henderson, Chair;  Terry Hong, Susan Knell, and Chris Crowe! How thrilling!

Or rather to be face-to-face to celebrate the Music of Words.

The 14th biennial Regional Conference will be held in March 5-7, 2021 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, and it promises to be a rockin' good time!  

The deadline for Breakout Session proposals is August 1. Click here to submit a session proposal.

The group read for all conference attendees is Ruta Sepetys's timely and stunning  novel,  The Fountains of Silence, (due out in paperback in September.) ​

Speaking of which, a reminder that purchases through Amazon and IndieBound can be designated to support USBBY.
​Likewise, purchasing through Bookshop can help local independent bookstores weather these precarious times and keep the words -and music - playing on.