Awards & Scholarships

Host Site Selected For 2026 Children’s Literature Lecture with Cynthia Leitich Smith

ALSC is proud to announce that the 2026 Children’s Literature Lecture will take place at the Elmer L. Andersen Library, University of Minnesota Libraries, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The application was submitted by Lisa Von Drasek, librarian and curator at The Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature, University of Minnesota Libraries. Award-winning author Cynthia Leitich Smith (Muscogee Nation) will deliver the lecture in spring 2026. Per The Minneapolis American Indian Center: Minneapolis is a…”large and tribally diverse urban Native population, numbering well over 35,000 in the 11-county Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area.” Additionally, there are numerous community partners, including 5 academic libraries, 3 public library systems; an independent book store specializing in native books and art; and a literary center. The Children’s Literature Lecture (formerly May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award) celebrates scholarship and critical thinking about literature for children. The Children’s Literature Lecture Award centers on the distinction of its winners, whose diverse…

Awards & Scholarships

Children’s Literature Lecture Award – A Call for Suggestions

Now is the time to nominate a candidate who has made a distinguished contribution to the field of children’s literature and would be an individual of distinction to prepare and present a paper which will make a significant contribution to the field of children’s literature. The lecturer may be related to the field in any area: author; illustrator; editor; publisher; professor of children’s literature; reviewer; art director, etc.  The criteria for this award includes: Begun in 1970, some previous winners of this esteemed award include: For a complete list of winners, click here. Here is a link to a form to nominate a candidate for the Children’s Literature Lecture Award. The deadline for nominations is AUGUST 1st.  If you have any questions, please contact the ChiLL committee chair, Sue McCleaf Nespeca, at kidlitplus@gmail.com

Author Spotlight

Bryan Collier’s Lecture “Dreamwalker” Is Now Available for Viewing

The 2023 Children’s Literature Lecture Award featuring Bryan Collier has been posted to the ALSC website and is now available for viewing by members. Collier’s lecture entitled “Dreamwalker” is an insightful and fascinating presentation of how an illustrator’s skill creates picture books that can be read visually and with words. It was AH-MAZING! As an illustrator and author Collier offers firsthand details  about creating picture books that will enrich those of us who evaluate them, use them, and love them.

ALSC Bylaws

Add Your Voice to the ALSC Chorus!

Serving as the ALSC President for 2022-2023 has been a humbling experience in many ways, not the least of which is because every day I have reminders that it is the dedicated work and input of members–all volunteers!–that allows us to set, work toward, and accomplish our goals. It’s incredibly rewarding to see the ways in which members add their talents and voices to the whole–and I want to invite YOU to add your voice to the chorus as well!

Guest Blogger

2023 Children’s Literature Lecture

ALSC is proud to announce that the 2023 Children’s Literature Lecture will take place at University of Dayton, Ohio on Wednesday, April 12, 2023 in the Kennedy Union Ballroom. Author and illustrator Bryan Collier will give the 2023 Children’s Literature Lecture. The event will start at 6 P.M. with a reception and the lecture starting at 7 P.M. After the lecture, a book signing will be available.

Guest Blogger

Children’s Literature Lecture Award Nominations

The Children’s Literature Lecture Award Committee is seeking suggestions for our 2024 honoree (note: this is not the same as the Children’s Literature Legacy Award). The lecture will be given in 2024 at a site to be chosen next year. The lecturer may be an author, critic, librarian, historian, or teacher of children’s literature, of any country, who shall prepare a talk considered to be a significant contribution to the field of children’s literature. Recent past winners include Bryan Collier (at left), Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, Neil Gaiman, Dr. Debbie Reese, Naomi Shihab Nye, and Jacqueline Woodson. The complete list of past lecturers is on the ALSC website. The nomination form is available online to ALSC members and the deadline for submissions is August 18.   The 2024 lecturer will be announced at the 2023 ALA LibLearnX Conference in January 2023 in New Orleans. For more details about the lecture, please visit the Children’s Literature Lecture Award site. (This piece originally appeared in The Horn Book Inc. Blog on…