Last night, I had the incredible honor of attending the Newbery-Caldecott-Legacy Banquet. A truly unforgettable experience and, in my opinion, a must for every librarian at least once in their career.
Over 80 tables filled with authors, publishers, librarians, award committee members, and their friends and families, all gathered in one grand room buzzing with excitement. We were warmly welcomed by both ALA President Cindy Hohl and ALSC President Robert Bittner, setting the tone for a night filled with celebration, recognition, and deep appreciation for the power of stories.
One of my favorite parts of the evening? The program, always beautifully designed using the artwork from the Caldecott Medal-winning book. It’s not just a keepsake; it’s a piece of art in its own right.
After a lovely dinner, the ceremony began. As always, it was moving and inspiring. The awards themselves are such an honor, representing the work of dedicated committees who read, evaluate, discuss, analyze, and sometimes even passionately defend hundreds of books. They narrow them down to one winner and a select few honor books. I can only imagine how overwhelming and humbling it must feel to be chosen.
The acceptance speeches were heartfelt and emotional. Hearing authors and illustrators speak about their creative journeys, their inspirations, and the deeply personal stories behind their work is a powerful reminder of why we do what we do in the world of books and literacy.
The celebrations didn’t stop there. This morning, I attended the ALSC Awards Ceremony, where even more outstanding books and creators were honored.
I was thrilled to see Lynn Brunelle and Jason Chin, the author and illustrator team behind Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall, which won the 2025 Sibert Medal. Lynn’s passion for science and nonfiction is contagious. Her mini science talk about the adorable yet dangerous slow loris, with its toxic armpit venom, had the audience laughing. As she pointed out, middle school boys would love a book about this, and this librarian is hoping she writes it.
One surprising moment for me was seeing a friend and former colleague, Sara Lissa Paulson, receive an honor for the Batchelder Award for Johnny, the Sea, and Me, a book she translated. She wasn’t able to attend in person, but I had the opportunity to record the presentation for her and saved a copy of the program as a keepsake. Moments like these remind me how connected and supportive our library community is.
Finally, let’s talk about Ame Dyckman, the delightful author of Vacation, this year’s Geisel Award winner. Her mantra “Maybe one day” resonated with everyone in the room, because one day, turned into today. The awards ceremonies are always a favorite for me. I can’t wait to see who is on next year’s list. Until then, I will be reading and recommending away.
Arlene Laverde (she/her/hers) is an adjunct and academic advisor in the Graduate School of Library and Information Studies Program at Queens College, CUNY, where she prepares future school librarians for school library life. She has a strong background in education and librarianship, and brings real-world experience and a passion for intellectual freedom, equity, and access to her teaching. She retired from her full time school librarian job in the summer of 2024 And is now focusing on a variety of library passions: children’s books, information freedom, and advocacy. She is looking forward to hearing George Takei and attending the Newbery/Caldecott Reception. Her life isn’t all about libraries though, she has been married for over 32 years and has two grown sons.
Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.
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