From the CBC website: “The Children’s, Middle-Grade, Young Adult, Teacher, and Librarian FAVORITES Awards are the most diverse and vibrant book lists anywhere.

The ILA and CBC have co-coordinated the Choices program since 1974. The program was paused in 2020 and now the CBC has agreed to run the program in full. We are grateful to the ILA for their years of work in making these lists a go-to resource for educators, librarians, and caregivers.

Each year, children, teens, teachers, and librarians across 50 states read newly published K-12 grade books and vote for the ones they like best. About 80 select community leaders nationwide display and share hundreds of publisher-submitted titles in their schools and libraries, ensuring that every book is read and voted on. The highest-voted titles are made into the CBC Favorites Awards Lists, a series of 6 lists showcasing books that young readers, teachers, and librarians really enjoy reading!”

From the CBC website: Book recommendations from social studies educators for librarians, booksellers, educators, parents, and guardians of the best children’s books with social studies content in 2023.

From the Bank Street Education website: “In choosing books for the annual list, committee members consider literary quality and excellence of presentation as well as the potential emotional impact of the books on young readers. Other criteria include credibility of characterization and plot, authenticity of time and place, age suitability, positive treatment of ethnic and religious differences, and the absence of stereotypes.”

The Read Aloud Indiana program fosters a love of reading and the sound of language. It consists of five read-aloud lists: one each for primary school ages, upper elementary, middle grades, high school, and ageless. The lists are publicized and distributed to encourage sustained reading and oral sharing of literature among teachers and students.

Research confirms the benefits of reading aloud for all ages — it improves vocabulary, increases attention, connects with emotions and helps with bonding, especially with younger ages.

From the Alabama School Library Association website: “The Yellowhammer Book Awards were created to highlight young adult literature titles that have literary merit, instructional application, and teen appeal. The award has been expanded and now includes pictures books, middle grade, and young adult. The award winners are selected by a committee Alabama school librarians.”

From the UGA website: “The Georgia Children’s Book Award was established in 1968 by Sheldon Root, a professor in the Department of Language Education in the College of Education at the University of Georgia. The purpose of the award is to foster a love of reading in the children of Georgia and to introduce them to books of literary excellence. The annual award is given in two categories: picture books and middle-grade books. The selection process involves teachers, school library media specialists, public librarians, and tens of thousands of youth from across the state.”

Heartfelt New Picture Books to Share!

Join us virtually to meet a sweet little cat that was the underdog of a prestigious Cat Show, then follow along as a girl reminisces about all the lovely things her grandfather taught her, next join a knight in his quest to find his missing father, and then watch as a little girl overcomes her stage fright!

Hello, San Francisco! I will be doing an in-person Story Time at the Daly City Public Library this Tuesday, October 24, 2023, at 10:30 AM. I'm so looking forward to meeting all of you there and to sharing this story about kindness and building community to celebrate Filipino American History Month. Hope to see you there!

LA folks! I'll be doing an in-person reading and Q&A at California State University, Long Beach this coming Monday, October 23, 2023 from 3:30 - 5:00 PM. This free event is thanks to the support of Long Beach XP, the CSULB College of Liberal Arts, the CSULB Office of Multicultural Affairs, the CSULB Department of Asian & Asian American Studies, and of Project Resilience.

2nd Annual Liwanag Literary Festival, celebrating Filipino-American stories and literature in honor of Filipino American History Month

Join us for the Liwanag Lit Fest, a free literary festival shining a light on the vibrant diversity of Filipinx storytelling, organized by the Long Beach Public Library, Bel Canto Books, and our amazing volunteer team of book lovers! Free parking is available behind the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library.

How do you connect with your loved ones and culture? Best-selling author of Holding On and Lolo's Sari-Sari Store, Sophia N. Lee joins us for a special story time to share how she connects with her heritage, followed by a Q&A session and a craft to celebrate Filipino American History Month. Call the Library at (562) 989-7323 to register.

See you at the Maplewood South Orange Kidlit Festival this October 1!

Get ready to immerse yourself in a cultural extravaganza this weekend as we celebrate Filipino American History Month (FAHM)! We are thrilled to announce the second annual Barrio Fest 2023, taking place on Sat, Sep 30, from 12pm to 5pm at the scenic Veterans Memorial Park, New Bridge Rd & Brey Ln, Bergenfield, NJ 07621.

How is it September already???

I hope to see you at these in-person events this month!

Come join us for a special Storytime with award winning author Sophia N. Lee! We are celebrating the release of her new book Lolo's Sari-sari Store. She will be reading from her new book as well as hosting an activity!

We are delighted to welcome Pinay author Sophia N. Lee, who will be present in person to celebrate her book, LOLO'S SARI-SARI STORE. The event will kick off with a warm welcome and author introductions, followed by a reading from the book and a Q&A session. Attendees will also have the opportunity to get their books signed and meet the author.

Join Sophia N. Lee, author of Lolo’s Sari-Sari Store on Saturday, August 12 at 1pm at the Pistahan Art Pavilion. Meet the author, get signed books, and bring the kids for free craft and coloring activities.

South San Francisco Public Library is honored to feature celebrated children's author Sophia N. Lee as our guest host for this week's Family Storytime!

Join us at 11:30 a.m. to meet Ms. Lee and be the first to hear her newest picture book, Lolo's Sari-Sari Store, read by the author herself.

We’re so happy to have Bel Canto Books as our pre-order partner for the launch of our book Lolo’s Sari-sari Store, written by me and illustrated by the fantastic Christine Almeda! Every pre-order comes with a special sari-sari store book plate signed by me and Christine, along with other pre-order goodies which we’ll be revealing soon.

This book is about building community and finding ways to belong in new places told through a Filipino lens, inspired by memories of the sari-sari store my family had when I was growing up.