Join #TheBookAwardCelebration! on June 28, 2020

Join us on June 28, 2020 for #TheBookAwardCelebration!

The American Library Association (ALA) is offering an exciting new free all-day virtual event celebrating the winners of several of its major book awards, including the esteemed Newbery and Caldecott medals, the Coretta Scott King Book Awards, the Printz Award, and the Stonewall youth and adult Book Awards.

Beginning at 9 a.m. CT on Sunday, June 28, 2020, on ALA’s YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/AmLibraryAssociation

ALA’s Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), Booklist Magazine, Office for Diversity, Literacy and Outreach Services, and Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA), along with Belpré Award co-sponsor, The National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking (REFORMA) have organized a brand new virtual celebration to honor award winning authors, illustrators, publishers, and producers.

Pre-recorded videos from book award winners will premiere for the first time throughout the day, according to the times designated by the schedule below. Viewers can watch live and share comments in chat, or view event videos on ALA’s YouTube channel soon after their premiere.

9 a.m. CT - Coretta Scott King Book Awards
10:30 a.m. CT - Batchelder, Excellence in Early Learning Digital Media, Geisel and Sibert Awards
Noon CT - Stonewall Book Awards
2 p.m. CT - Belpré Celebración
3:30 p.m. CT - Odyssey Award Ceremony
5 p.m. CT - Printz Award Ceremony
7 p.m. CT - Newbery and Caldecott Medals and Children’s Literature Legacy Award Virtual Banquet

Also, the event will highlight a variety of award-winning books throughout the day including winning selections from the Asian/Pacific American Awards for Literature, Sydney Taylor Book Award, and the American Indian Youth Literature Award .

Book lovers from around the world are expected to participate and are encouraged to hold watch parties and post photos and videos on social media with the hashtag #TheBookAwardCelebration. Viewer social media posts will be automatically entered into giveaways taking place during the celebration.

To learn more about the event and participating authors, illustrators, and producers, please follow the hashtag #TheBookAwardCelebration on Twitter.

Note: The emphasis of the text is mine, to highlight areas of AALBC were we track books that were written by Black writers or contains Black characters.  In the case of the Coretta Scott King Book Awards all of the award winning books fit into that category.