Congratulations to Kellyanne Healey and Anne Katz, the recipients of USBBY's 2025 Bridge to Understanding Awards.  The award acknowledges the work of adults who create programs that use children's books to explore cultures around the world in order to promote international understanding among children.

Kellyanne Healey is the Children’s Librarian at Parsippany Library - Lake Hiawatha Branch in New Jersey.  Her 2025 International Children’s Book Week project involved interactive displays and activities, community-led, dual-language storytimes, and was marketed as a “no-cost” travel experience for families looking for something to do over the school
district’s spring break. She showcase  two hundred books representing fifty countries on six continents.

Dr. Anne Katz is a Clinical Full Professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, at the University of Houston in Houston, Texas. Since fall 2022, her Family Literacy Projects around Diverse Children’s Books, a part of a pre-
teaching Curriculum and Instruction course for future PK and elementary teachers, created and distributed over 480 projects to local families. A student reflected, "I learned how using diverse children’s books that represent characters and experiences can not only promote inclusivity and representation but also create opportunities for meaningful conversations and connections with families. Through these diverse children’s books, children and their families can consider their cultural backgrounds and identities, using books to reflect on their own experiences.” She is currently studying the impact of the project.

Established in memory of Arlene Pillar, an educator who served USBBY as newsletter editor from 1984 until her untimely death in 1990, the Bridge to Understanding Award is funded by the Lesesne Family to share their passion for books and reading that bring a cultural awareness to readers. The award carries a monetary prize of $1,000 and is given biennially to coincide with the IBBY Regional Conference hosted by USBBY.  Learn more about the award.  

Since the award was not given in 2023, the committee recognized two projects in this iteration. Thanks to the award committee, including chair Nancy Hadaway,  members Cyndi Giorgis, Joan Glazer, and Amy Kellman, and board liaison,  Jim Stiles. 

​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. 

Bookbird, Inc., the management board of IBBY’s journal, Bookbird: A Journal of International Children’s Literature, seeks an editor or editorial team to commence work in 2026 in preparation for taking on the editing of the journal commencing with Issue 1 (January) 2027 for a four-year term.

Bookbird is a refereed journal published quarterly by IBBY (The International Board on Books for Young People). It is produced and distributed by JHUP (Johns Hopkins University Press). Bookbird is indexed in SCOPUS, Children’s Book Review Index, Library Literature, LISA, MLA International Bibliography, and Web of Science.

The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) is a non-profit organization which represents an international network of people from all over the world who are committed to bringing books and children together.

A Bookbird Editor is expected to have the following qualifications:

• Commitment to the ideals of IBBY and the principles guiding the publication of Bookbird.
• An appropriate level of experience in editing a journal or books to publication level, including a thorough understanding of the publishing process and experience in working with copy editors, designers and printers.
• A degree in an appropriate discipline, e.g. literature, children’s literature, languages, childhood studies, publishing, librarianship, etc..
• An excellent knowledge of children’s literature in an international context.
• An ability to work with and encourage authors from a wide range of cultures and languages.
• An excellent command of the English language and a general ability to work with other languages and writers whose first language is not English. Proficiency in a language other than English will be an advantage.
• Good information technology skills, in particular related to editing and publishing.
• An ability to work within and keep to deadlines.
• A willingness to work closely with the Bookbird, Inc. Board, the IBBY Executive Committee and the IBBY Secretariat.
• Availability to travel to Bookbird meetings (two per year). There is a small budget for this.

Download information on the search here.

Applicants are required to submit the following by email:

• A detailed CV (resumé) that responds to the criteria listed above.
• A vision statement for Bookbird.
• The names, email addresses and telephone numbers of two referees. References will only be required prior to a possible decision to offer the position and will not be retained.

Team applications should include the items listed above in relation to each team member.

Applications should be submitted to:

• Valerie Coghlan, President of Bookbird, Inc.: [email protected].
• Ellis Vance, Treasurer of Bookbird, Inc.: [email protected].
• Evelyn Freeman, Secretary of Bookbird, Inc. [email protected].

​Further details about editing Bookbird will be supplied following a request to the Bookbird President and/or the Secretary.
Closing date for applications:  31 October 2025.
The post will be open until filled.

Please excuse cross-postings.


Dear Colleagues,

The Global Literature in Libraries Initiative (GLLI), a nonprofit, is seeking a new Executive Director. This volunteer position would be an excellent service opportunity for librarians, faculty, doctoral students or others already familiar with the field of international literature, especially books for children and teens. Here is the link to the job posting on the GLLI blog. I also reproduce it below:

Global Literature in Libraries Initiative (GLLI) Executive Director Job Description

The Global Literature in Libraries Initiative (GLLI) is a nonprofit that “strives to raise the visibility of world literature for adults and children at the local, national and international levels.” GLLI is at a moment of transition: activities it has created or assisted with are viable, launched, and respected. With these achievements, several original board members are stepping down and new ones are joining the board. GLLI seeks new leadership to support, sustain, and expand its existing operations, and to oversee the next stage of its growth. This will be a dynamic individual committed to international youth literature, well-connected to organizations with related goals, with creative ideas for supporting GLLI's existing initiatives and for envisioning new directions for its members. This is a volunteer post, but one that gives the right person an important platform to build international bridges through books. Work is conducted remotely. The time commitment is approximately 10 hours a week and is flexible. If desired, the position could be shared between two people prepared to closely collaborate.

Duties:

Responsible for the planning, organizing, and directing of the organization’s projects. Current projects consist of:

• the GLLI Translated YA Book Prize, an annual award that recognizes the author, translator, and publisher of the most outstanding translated work for young adults originally written and published (or simultaneously published) in a language other than English.
• the GLLI blog, with its various regular features and special focus months covering books for adults, teens, and children; current readership is about 100,000.
• the Carnegie-Whitney grant-funded “Building a Global Youth Literature Collection 101” starter kit website geared to children’s librarians plus a “hub” that aggregates relevant web-based materials – a unique resource.

Monitor and coordinate with the Prize committee, run the blog, and oversee maintenance of the starter kit by qualified volunteers.

Report to the board.

Create a yearly project budget for board approval. The budget will be a modest one.

Identify, recruit, train and develop a talented team of volunteers to help with projects.

Ensure business practices comply with regulatory and legal requirements.

Build on existing partnerships and develop new ones to publicize GLLI projects.

Represent the organization online and (as possible) in person.

To inquire or apply: contact Annette Goldsmith, GLLI Secretary, [email protected]

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: [email protected].

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.

IBBY Press Release
29 November 2024

IBBY joins millions around the world in calling for an end to the nightmare of ongoing killing of children in Gaza, the Occupied West Bank and Lebanon.

The staggering human toll of more than 13 months of war is still being measured. An analysis of the casualties in Gaza since 7 October 2023, which was published by the United Nations’ Human Rights Office on 8 November 2024, found that almost 70 percent of those killed were women and children. The ages most represented among the dead were 5- to 9-year-olds. Some 80% of those killed perished inside residential buildings or housing.

With over 17,000 Palestinian children killed, thousands buried under rubble, 40,000 wounded, many orphaned, and hundreds left with lifelong disabilities, UNICEF’s spokesperson James Elder has described the situation as “a nightmare become reality.”

The forced cessation of UNRWA’s essential humanitarian work will compound these outrages and, in words of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, “have direct impacts on the human rights of those depending on its assistance”. Urgent protection must be provided for Palestinian and Lebanese children.

IBBY urgently calls on international leaders, humanitarian organizations, and global civil society to take action for immediate ceasefire and the halt of all military operations in Gaza, and the West Bank. We welcome the cessation of hostilities in Lebanon and hope the ceasefire will be lasting. In addition, IBBY calls for the immediate return of aid, both medical and food, to the many who are facing starvation and imminent death.

IBBY has long supported children living in crisis, and is a pioneer in devising projects that provide books and bibliotherapy to traumatised and distressed young people worldwide. Its commitment in Palestine began in Gaza in 2008 with the establishment of two children’s libraries, which sadly have been repeatedly destroyed by Israeli attacks. Yet with support of IBBY International and the local community, the libraries’ mission has persisted despite displacement and destruction.

IBBY pledges to revive and rebuild these libraries, commence bibliotherapy and psychosocial activities for the children in makeshift spaces, and support them wholeheartedly. Some of our sections have commenced fund raising activities already. We call on friends to join us in our effort to raise funds for children in dire need. Every donation, large or small, will make a difference, and be deeply appreciated.

Basarat Kazim
IBBY President
on behalf of the IBBY Executive Committee

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.