#1 Bestselling author, poet, and advocate Amanda Gorman and award-winning artist Christian Robinson to close ALA 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition in Chicago

CHICAGO – The American Library Association today announced that presidential inaugural poet and #1 New York Times bestselling author Amanda Gorman and Caldecott Honor and Coretta Scott King Honor winner Christian Robinson will close the ALA 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition, June 22-27, 2023, in Chicago. Additional speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Registration for the conference is open, and advance rates are available.

Amanda Gorman is the youngest presidential inaugural poet in US history and the #1 New York Times bestselling author of "The Hill We Climb," "Call Us What We Carry," and the children’s picture book "Change Sings," illustrated by Loren Long. She is also a committed advocate for the environment, racial equality, and gender justice. In a groundbreaking collaboration with the Estée Lauder Companies as a Global Changemaker, she established the Writing Change initiative to support grassroots organizations dedicated to advancing literacy as a pathway to social change. Gorman graduated cum laude from Harvard University and now lives in her hometown of Los Angeles. She will be joined by Christian Robinson, Caldecott Award-winning children’s book author and illustrator. His picture books include “Another and You Matter,” and he has illustrated many more, including “Nina: A Story of Nina Simone” by Traci N. Todd and “The Bench” by Meghan Markle, The Duchess of Sussex. He lives in Oakland.

Together, they will discuss their upcoming children’s picture book, “Something, Someday,” a timeless message of hope, with intimate and inspiring text and powerfully stunning illustrations. It will be available September 2023.

The ALA 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition will include 200+ education programs; the News You Can Use series with updates that highlight new research; innovations and advances in libraries; memorable featured authors and celebrity speakers; interactive discussion groups; and networking opportunities. 

The Library Marketplace will showcase more than 550 exhibitors; nine live presentation stages that will highlight notable and genre-specific keynotes; sessions on new book titles; knowledgeable and innovative exhibitors; popular features, including Meet the Authors; innovative resources; giveaways, and more.  

See the sessions, events, and activities in the Conference Scheduler.

Get updates from the 2023 Annual Conference & Exhibition and follow #ALAAC23 and social media at ALA Twitter, ALA Conferences Twitter, ALA Facebook, and Instagram. 

About the American Library Association
The American Library Association (ALA) is the foremost national organization providing resources to inspire library and information professionals to transform their communities through essential programs and services. For more than 140 years, the ALA has been the trusted voice for academic, public, school, government and special libraries, advocating for the profession and the library’s role in enhancing learning and ensuring access to information for all. For more information, visit ala.org.