Events & Pd

World Book Night has selected 35 books for its annual celebration dedicated to spreading the love of reading. In its third year, the program will mobilize tens of thousands of volunteers on April 23 to distribute half a million paperback editions of the chosen titles, nine of which are for children’s and young adult readers.

A group of aspiring Latino writers gathered in Brooklyn, NY, earlier this month at the second annual Comadres and Compadres Latino Writers Conference held at Medgar Evers College. Approximately half of the 75 writers and publishing professionals in attendance to exchange advice, tips, and words of inspiration participated in panels dedicated specifically to children’s literature.

The Port Washington (NY) Public Library will host an exhibition of kid lit illustrators. Arizona State University wins REFORMA’s 2013 Mora Award. YALSA’s 2013 Teens’ Top Ten list is announced. The Gale Virtual Reference Library adds nearly 200 children’s Encyclopedia Britannica titles. Apply for a ALSC/Candlewick Press Grant. A research fellowship is available at the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi.

The Civil Rights Movement was at the forefront this year at the 60th annual Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards ceremony, held October 18 in New York City. The awards are given annually to children’s books, praised for their excellence, that also promote peace, social justice, world community, and the equality of the sexes and races.

Teen Read Week, YALSA's annual national adolescent literacy initiative, was held this year from October 13-19. Librarians who serve teens organized events, displays, and programs to encourage them to be lifelong readers and library users. This year's theme, "Seek the Unknown @ your library," is illustrated in this terrarium based on Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys, created by Molly Wetta of Lawrence Public Library, Kansas.

Monday, November 4th, 2013, 2:00 - 3:00 PM ET Greg Heffley's on a losing streak. His best friend, Rowley Jefferson, has ditched him, and finding new friends in middle school is proving to be a tough task. To change his fortunes, Greg decides to take a leap of faith and turn his decisions over to chance. Will a roll of the dice turn things around, or is Greg's life destined to be just another hard-luck story? Jeff Kinney tells all about Greg’s leaving it to chance in this one hour live-streaming event, and will answer your questions live! Archive is now available!

Teen Read Week (TRW) kicked off with a lively Twitter chat among supporters of teen literacy and leisure reading on October 15. SLJ, Blink, Goodreads, Merit Press, Soho Teen, and AASL participated in the hour-long virtual conversation, highlighting ways librarians can help celebrate teen reading. The following are some of the tweets that resonated with SLJ editors.

How does DeKalb Public Library do it? The library has earned seven Big Read grants from the NEA. Read on to find out how they nailed the True Grit western theme without the book's reclusive author.

Speaking at SLJ's Leadership Summit in Austin, TX, last month, ALA President Barbara Stripling implored attendees to demand that their communities assert all students' right to a library.