A child can be celebrated at home and still lose confidence in a school hallway. Billy Porter’s ALA Annual Main Stage appearance featured Songbird in the Light, written by Porter with Chris Clarkson and illustrated by Charly Palmer. The picture book follows a child whose voice is loved at home, mocked at school, and strengthened through the encouragement of a choir teacher. The conference program described the book as a story about learning to love yourself.
Tag: Readers’ Advisory
#ALAAC26: Dr. Jill Biden and the Door Before the Answer
Dr. Jill Biden’s ALA Annual conversation offered a youth-services reminder. A young person may need the library before feeling ready to enter.
#ALAAC26: At the Printz Awards Celebration, Listening for Teen Readers
The 2026 Michael L. Printz Awards Celebration honored books, authors, committee work, publishers, families, and literary communities. As a teen services librarian, I listened for the readers behind the speeches.