 Unite Against Book Bans is a national initiative on the part of the American Library Association, one of USBBY's valued patron organizations, to empower readers everywhere to stand together in the fight against censorship.
Unite Against Book Bans believes: - Reading is a foundational skill, critical to future learning and to exercising our democratic freedoms. - Books are tools for understanding complex issues. Limiting young people's access to books does not protect them from life's complex and challenging issues. - Individuals should be trusted to make their own decisions about what to read. - Parents should not be making decisions for other parents' children. - Young people deserve to see themselves reflected in a library's books. At our March 2024 meeting, the USBBY board voted to co-sign as a Partner of Unite Against Book Bans. Learn more about their toolkit, talking points, book resumes, and other resources to help you fight censorship efforts in your community and beyond.  IBBY Japan (JBBY) is the official sponsor of ICBD 2024, promoting the theme "Cross the Seas on the Wing of your Imagination". Eiko Kadono, a prominent Japanese author and winner of the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award, composed her poem as a letter to the children of the world. Nana Furiya, an international-minded Japanese artist living in Slovakia, created the poster. Imagination is the key word for ICBD 2024. JBBY believes that fostering imagination will lead to mutual understanding and a spirit of tolerance. Download high resolution digital materials to decorate your event, share posts about it #ICBD24 "Stories travel, riding on wings, Longing to hear the joyful beat of your heart. I’m a traveling story. I fly anywhere. On wings of wind, or wings of waves, or sometimes on tiny wings of sand. Of course, I also ride the wings of migratory birds. And even those of jet planes. I sit beside you. Opening the pages, I tell you a story, the one you want to hear. Would you like a strange and wondrous story? Or how about a sad one, a scary one, or a funny one? If you don’t feel like listening right now, that’s fine too. But I know someday you will. When you do, just call out, “Traveling story, come. Sit beside me!” And I’ll fly right there. "I have so many stories to share. How about a story of a little island tired of being alone who learned to swim and set off to find a friend? Or the tale of a mysterious night when two moons appeared. Or the one about Santa Claus getting lost. "Oh, I can hear your heart. It’s beating faster. Flitter-flutter, thumpity-thump, pitter-patter, bumpety-bump. The traveling story has jumped inside and set your heart racing. You’ll become one yourself next, spreading your wings to fly. And so, another traveling story is born." Read the original Japanese text, and the French, German and Spanish translations on the IBBY website.
Many thanks to the 2024 Outstanding International Books Committee, Sara Parrish, Chair, Rachel Roseberry, Assistant Chair, Tiffany A. Thornton, María V. Acęvedo, Gussie Lewis, Linda Pavonetti, Danilo Baylen Sandip Wilson, and Linda Parsons. for their thoughtful selections. of notable international literature for young American readers.
Slidedeck with embedded presentations:
Presentation from LibLearnX 2024 in Baltimore, with Rachel Roseberry, Linda Parsons, and Linda Pavonetti.
PDF version of the 2024 OIB bookmark
On Friday, January 19, 2024, at 8:00 p.m., USBBY explored literature for children about Ukraine and by Ukrainian authors. Panelists include Katherine Marsh, author of The Lost Year (Roaring Brook Press/Macmillan, 2023), a National Book Award finalist and Jane Addams Children's Book Award Winner; Dr. Anastasia Ulanowicz, Professor, Department of English, University of Florida, Emilie Robert Wong, Enchanted Lion Books, publisher of How War Changed Rondo, by Romana Romanyshyn and Andriy Lesiv (a 2023 Outstanding International Book) and Angus Yuen-Killick of Red Comet Press which recently published Yellow Butterfly: a story from Ukraine by Oleksandr Shatokhin. Co-sponsored by ALSC and ALA.
 The International Board on Books for Young People has announced the Shortlist for the 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award:
Authors Marina Colasanti from Brazil Heinz Janisch from Austria Lee Geum-yi from the Republic of Korea Bart Moeyaert from Belgium Timo Parvela from Finland Edward van de Vendel from the Netherlands Illustrators Cai Gao from China Iwona Chmielewska from Poland Nelson Cruz from Brazil Elena Odriozola from Spain Sydney Smith from Canada Paloma Valdivia from Chile USBBY member Brenda Dales was among the ten-member 2024 Hans Christian Andersen Award Jury, which also included Evelyn Arizpe (Mexico/UK), Sabine Fuchs (Austria), Diana Laura Kovach (Argentina), Shereen Kreidieh (Lebanon), Bettina Kümmerling-Meibauer (Germany), Jaana Pesonen (Finland), Tan Fengxia (China), Pavle Učakar (Slovenia) and Morgane Vasta (France) was led by Jury President Liz Page. Carolina Ballester acted as Jury Secretary. The two winners will be announced at the IBBY Press Conference on Monday, 8 April 2024 at the Bologna International Children’s Book Fair. The medals and diplomas will be presented to the winners during the 39th IBBY Congress in Trieste, Italy, 30 August to 1 September 2024. About the Award The IBBY Hans Christian Andersen Award, established in 1956, is the world’s most prestigious international children’s book award. The author winners include: Marie-Aude Murail (France), Cao Wenxuan (China), Astrid Lindgren (Sweden), Michio Mado (Japan), Tove Jansson (Finland), and Margaret Mahy (New Zealand). The illustrator winners include: Květa Pacovská (Czech Republic), Maurice Sendak (USA), Suzy Lee (Republic of Korea), Farshid Mesghali (Iran), Albertine (Switzerland) and Roger Mello (Brazil). Every two years, the IBBY Executive Committee elects the international jury of experts from nominations submitted by the IBBY National Sections, including USBBY. The members of the Jury assess the complete body of the candidates’ work. All the candidates nominated for the Award have made outstanding contributions to children’s literature in their countries; a complete list of the 2024 candidates can be seen here. The International Board on Books for Young People is made up of 83 National Sections and works to bring children and books together. The Andersen Award is sponsored by Nami Island Arts & Education Inc.  Join USBBY in Columbus Sunday, November 19 at 9:00 a.m. EST in C-160 A/B GCCC. USBBY will present a conversation with author Michelle Kadarusman and Susannah Richards. Michelle Kadarusman's acclaimed novel, Music for Tigers (2020, Pajama Press) is just one title recognized on USBBY's Outstanding International Books (OIB) list. Hear from Michelle about writing across borders, and learn more about USBBY's resources for teaching and learning as well as its work in promoting international literature for American readers. The events that unfolded since Saturday, 7 October stunned and shocked the world. The International Board on Books for Young People (IBBY) denounces all violence, in any form, and especially violence against children. IBBY’s Mission Statement calls for the protection of all children as codified in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which states that every child has the inherent right to life and promotes the development of respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Fifteen years ago, the IBBY Gaza libraries in Beit Hanoun and Rafah opened their doors. These two libraries gave the local children havens where they could enjoy reading and dream of a better future through books. The libraries stayed open through years of blockade, confrontation and poverty, but now war is again destroying their fragile existence. We are deeply concerned for all the children affected by this war: with Gaza under siege and facing a rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation, we are especially worried about our librarians and their innocent visitors. Hostage taking and massacres are indefensible, but the current conflict will not solve anything. Therefore, we call on all agencies and organizations that believe in justice, peace and humanity to work towards a diplomatic solution and end this tragic war. The children of Israel and Palestine deserve better than this. IBBY Executive Committee 18 October 2023 
After 15+ years, I have stepped down from my role as USBBY Executive Director.
As of January this year, Junko Yokota, long time leader in USBBY and IBBY, has assumed the position. Junko has asked me to stay on in two important roles: As USBBY liaison to our twinning partners, El Salvador, Haiti, Lebanon and Palestine, and to lead fundraising for Children in Crisis Projects. Both of these are "very near and dear to my heart." As you may know, USBBY has been paying the national section dues of our twinning partners. Without our help, they would not be able to continue as national sections in IBBY. You, our members and friends, have been very generous in your donations and these donations continue to be needed and are much appreciated. Beginning this year, I have asked our twinning partners to send reports and photos of their very important work with children in their countries. Sent three times a year, they will be shared with you on the USBBY website so that you can see the important work they are doing. If you go to the USBBY website donations link, you can always find the donation opportunities for our supported Children in Crisis Projects. As the new director of fundraising for these projects, I will be identifying the most critical needs and these regular updates will also be on our website. Given that, my first plea for very urgent needed donations is for the Refugee Children on the U.S. Southern Border in cooperation with ALA's REFORMA. Fleeing violence and extreme poverty in their home countries, large numbers of Central American children and families are seeking asylum at our southern border, including thousands of unaccompanied children. It is estimated there are currently 152,000 unaccompanied minors at our near the U.S.-Mexican border. I have always been in awe of your generosity, our USBBY members and friends. Much has already been donated to this cause, but the need continues to be great. You may wonder what these funds are used for? Your generous donations pay for children's books in Spanish and English, the shipping costs of donated books, backpacks with paper, pencils, crayons, as well as motivational activities, and the printing of library cards that children can use to check out library books in U,S. Public Libraries. For more information about this important work and how your donations are used, please watch the YouTube presentation provided by one of the local sheroes, Dr. Melba Salazar-Lucio, Team Brownsville Escuelita de la Banqueta. Last, dear friends, I look forward to keeping you up to date on a regular basis about USBBY's important work with children! And thank you for all you do! Ellis  Literature has the power to open minds to new worlds, new understandings, and new possibilities. This free International Literacy Association Webinar, held in partnership with the United States Board on Books for Young People (USBBY), explores ways to leverage high-quality, global literature for powerful learning opportunities.
Mónica Montañés (author of Different), Mari Kanstad Johnsen (illustrator of Bedtime for Bo), Paloma Valdivia (illustrator of Book of Questions), and Sara Lissa Paulson (translator of Book of Questions), whose books were named to USBBY’s 2023 Outstanding International Books List, will be on hand to discuss their work and how engaging young readers in world literature can help them become active global citizens. Speakers: Claudia Zoe Bedrick Evelyn B. Freeman Mari Kanstad Johnsen Isaac Willis Larison Miriam Martinez Kathleen Merz Mónica Montañés Sara Lissa Paulson Paloma Valdivia Using Literature to Promote Understanding, Empathy, and Global Citizenship May 9, 2023 | 5:00 p.m.–6:30 p.m. ET Registration is required to attend the live event and watch the recording. Please note that the live event will be accessible only to the first 300 attendees who log in on the day of the event. Register online. |
