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The free, virtual event features author conversations between Christina Soontornvat and Steve Sheinkin, James Patterson and Chris Grabenstein, and Malinda Lo and Daniel Nayeri, as well as creator panels and a closing keynote from Traci Sorell.

Twenty-five libraries in Title I schools have been awarded the $700 grants, presented by the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute, in partnership with SLJ.

Banned Books Week has its first Honorary Chair; two titles created from The 1619 Project will be released in November; free webinars on teaching Juneteenth and reopening institutions after COVID vaccines; and more in this edition of News Bites.

Students can learn about the environment and conservation and celebrate Earth Week 2021 with these resources and educational opportunities.

Trans and nonbinary authors Kacen Callender, Meredith Russo, Daniel Lavery, and Meredith Talusan joined moderator Kyle Lukoff for a conversation about their struggles and successes. 

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators has partnered with author Meg Medina to provide a grant for Latinx writers and teamed up with the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation for a new prize for BIPOC illustrators.

Scholastic will no longer publish or distribute Dav Pilkey's The Adventures of Ook and Gluk; Comic-Con is coming back in-person; plus an Alice Walker picture book and more in this edition of News Bites.

This month's must-haves for children and teens include Steve Light's take on the road trip, L.L. McKinney's pitch-perfect reimagining of superhero Nubia, and a delightful bilingual board book from Susie Jaramillo.

Tricia Elam Walker was named the winner of the writer award for Nana Akua Goes to School. Heidi Woodward Sheffield won the award for illustrator for Brick by Brick.