Kwame Alexander to deliver 2027 Children’s Literature Lecture

CHICAGO — Author Kwame Alexander will deliver the 2027 Children’s Literature Lecture. The announcement was made today by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), during the ALA’s Youth Media Awards Announcements in Chicago.

“Kwame Alexander is a skilled author who uses distinct poetic forms to tell stories about complex social topics, while also encouraging children to write and publish their own stories,” said 2027 Children’s Literature Lecture Award Committee Chair Sue McCleaf Nespeca.

Alexander is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 44 books including the John Newbery Medal winner “The Crossover.” A strong supporter of libraries, he has been instrumental in building libraries and partnering with the Little Free Library organization. He regularly shares his passion for literacy, books and writing around the world at book festivals and global literacy symposiums. His mission in life is “to change the world, one word at a time.”

The Children’s Literature Lecturer, selected annually, may be an author, illustrator, editor, critic, librarian, historian, or teacher of children’s literature, of any country, who shall prepare a paper considered to be a significant contribution to the field of children’s literature. The paper is delivered as a lecture each spring. Once the name is made public, institutions interested in hosting the lecture may apply. A library school, department of education in a college or university or a public library system may be considered. Applications to host the lecture will be available from ALSC this spring at www.ala.org/alsc.

Members of the 2027 Children’s Literature Lecture Award Committee are Chair Sue McCleaf Nespeca, Kid Lit Plus Consulting, Gettysburg, PA; Meghan Lynne Bird, Bird Academics (founder), New York, NY; Africa S. Hands, PhD, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York; Mary Voors, Allen County Public Library (retired), Fort Wayne, IN; and Brian E. Wilson, Evanston Public Library, Evanston, IL.

About the American Library Association

The American Library Association is the largest non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to America’s libraries. The ALA mission is to empower and advocate for all libraries and library workers to ensure equitable access to information for all. For nearly 150 years, ALA has provided resources for information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more information, visit www.ala.org.

About the Association for Library Service to Children

ALSC, a division of the American Library Association, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 3,300 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for all children through libraries. Visit www.ala.org/alsc.

For more information on the Children’s Literature Lecture Award and other ALA Youth Media Awards, please visit www.ala.org/yma.

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