Registration open for 2021 Children’s Literature Lecture Celebration honoring Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop

CHICAGO — The 2021 ALSC Children’s Literature Lecture Celebration will take place from 5 p.m. – 6:15 p.m. ET on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021. This celebration will be held virtually and will honor the work of Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop. 

Dr. Bishop was awarded the Children’s Literature Lecture Award for 2021. The award, formerly known as the May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture, honors an individual of distinction in the field of children’s literature; that individual is selected to deliver a distinguished lecture on behalf of ALSC. 

Due to unforeseen circumstances, Dr. Bishop will not deliver this year’s lecture. In lieu of the lecture, ALSC is delighted to host a virtual celebration of Dr. Bishop’s work and her impact on the field of children’s literature. The celebration will feature a live, moderated discussion of thought leaders in children’s literature: Dr. Violet J. Harris (University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign), Dr. Dianne Johnson-Feelings (University of South Carolina), Alexandra Kennedy (The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art) and moderator Dr. Jonda C. McNair (The Ohio State University). The celebration will also feature prerecorded remarks from a variety of children’s literature authors, illustrators, and leaders in the field, including Dr. Bishop; resources and materials for attendees, and more!

“This year’s Children’s Literature Lecture Celebration is designed to capture the thunderous applause when Dr. Bishop was announced as the recipient of this honor,” said 2021 Children’s Literature Lecture chair Jennifer Duffy. “It will transform that enthusiasm into a virtual celebration available to all, no matter where in the world they live.” 

The 2021 ALSC Children’s Literature Lecture Celebration is a free event; to register, please visit the ALSC Children’s Literature Lecture Celebration webpage.  

For more information on the ALSC Children’s Literature Lecture Award, please visit www.ala.org/alsc/chll; for more information on all ALA Youth Media Awards, please visit www.ala.org/yma. 

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is driven by more than 4,000 members dedicated to the support and enrichment of library service to children. Members include youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty. ALSC supports its members in engaging communities to build healthy, successful futures for all children. To learn more about ALSC and how to join, please visit www.ala.org/alsc.