From the Library of Virginia

Children's Virginia Literary Award

The Children's Virginia Literary Award honors excellence in the field of children's literature with a focus on Virginia. Picture books and middle-grade works (recommended reading levels of up to age 12) of both fiction and nonfiction are eligible. Books by authors with a connection to Virginia and books set in Virginia will be considered for the award. The award period for consideration is the preceding calendar year (nominees for the 2024 award must have been published in calendar year 2023).

A partnership between the Library of Virginia and William and Mary Libraries, the Children's Virginia Literary Award includes a $2,500 monetary prize and will be presented during the Virginia Literary Awards at the Library of Virginia.

Nomination submission forms are now being accepted and can be found here. Nominations must be submitted by March 31, 2024. Finalists will be announced in July. Up to five titles will be named finalists.

VLA Youth Services Forum

Grants and Opportunities

Resources from the Virginia Commission for the Arts

This grant program supports touring by Virginia performing artists and ensembles within the state. The touring activities are restricted to those listed in the Commission’s annual Touring Artist Roster. Any nonprofit organization meeting the Basic Eligibility criteria in the Guidelines for Funding can apply to receive a Virginia Touring Grant to support these activities. Grants are made to the presenter, not to the touring artist(s).

• Artist Rosters | https://vca.virginia.gov/artists/
• And the two grants which support bringing these artists around the state:
  • Virginia Touring Grants | https://vca.virginia.gov/grant/virginia-touring-grants/
  • Arts in Practice Grants | https://vca.virginia.gov/grant/arts-in-practice/

Book News

2024 Ezra Jack Keats Award

The Ezra Jack Keats Foundation (EJK Foundation), in partnership with the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), announced the winners of the 2024 Ezra Jack Keats Award (EJK Award), as well as four honor books and four finalists. The annual EJK Award celebrates exceptional early career authors and illustrators for portraying the multicultural nature of our world in the spirit of Ezra Jack Keats. The award ceremony will be held on Thursday, April 11 2024, at 12:30 PM ET, during the Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival at USM in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The ceremony will be livestreamed beginning at 1:00 PM ET – for details. 

2023 Best Graphic Novels for Children

ALA’s Graphic Novels & Comics Round Table (GNCRT) is thrilled to introduce the 2023 Best Graphic Novels for Children (BGNC) Reading List. This reading list highlights the best graphic novels for children aged 5 – 12 years old, published in late 2022 through 2023, and it aims to increase awareness of the graphic novel medium, raise voices of diverse comics creators, and aid library staff in the development of graphic novel collections.

The Graphic Novels and Comics Round Table (GNCRT) and its committees honor the entire creative team (including the writer, penciler, inker, colorist, letterer, and translator) involved in the titles listed. All of these people play a critical role in the creation of the work, helping to lift the story and give it life.

https://www.ala.org/rt/gncrt/best-graphic-novels-children-reading-list-2023

Featured Programs

Your library program can be featured here! 
Please submit a photo and description of your favorite program!

Self-Care Corner

Upcoming Important Dates & Celebrations

National and State Conferences
March 14-16: Virginia Association for the Education of Young Children (Roanoke)

March 18-20: Virginia State Literacy Association (Norfolk)

March 19-20: Virginia Head Start Assn Health & Family Institute (Charlottesville)

April 3-5: Public Library Association (Columbus, OH)