City of Beaumont Public Library System Receives 2026 ALSC/Candlewick Press Light the Way Grant

CHICAGO - The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), has announced the City of Beaumont Public Library System as the recipient of the 2026 ALSC/Candlewick Press "Light the Way: Outreach to the Underserved" Grant. As this year’s grant recipient, the library will receive $3,000 to implement Hands-On Hope: Healing Options for Perseverance in Education, an innovative sensory-based outreach program.

The Light the Way Grant, which honors Newbery medalist and Geisel winner Kate DiCamillo, is now in its fourteenth year. Although originally conceived as a one-time award, it has continued to be awarded through the generosity of Candlewick Press.

With this grant, the City of Beaumont Public Library System will provide sensory boxes, manipulatives, and guided activities to youth ages 0–14 with special emphasis on including underserved populations and the neurodivergent community within the City of Beaumont. The project will be implemented across multiple access points — Beaumont Public Library System libraries, partner schools, and community events — ensuring that families with transportation challenges can still participate.

“The grant submitted by the City of Beaumont Public Library System showed an impressive amount of collaboration among community members. The entire committee wishes them the best of luck in implementing the project and can’t wait to hear about the results,” said Tammie Benham and Lauren Brandstetter, ALSC Program and Services Recognition Committee Co-chairs.

“Candlewick Press continues to take great pride in the opportunity to offer support through this year’s Light the Way Grant,” said Sawako Shirota, Manager of Library Marketing at Candlewick Press. “We believe that the Beaumont Public Library’s program ‘Hands-on Hope: Healing Options for Perseverance in Education’ will play a profoundly impactful role in enriching underserved communities across the city of Beaumont, including members of the neurodivergent community. We remain deeply committed to investing in initiatives of this quality and significance.”

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About ALSC

The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) is driven by more than 3,000 members dedicated to the support and enrichment of library service to children. Our members include youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty. ALSC supports its members in engaging communities to build healthy, successful, futures for all children. To learn more about ALSC and how to join, please visit: www.ala.org/alsc .

About Candlewick Press

 For more than thirty years, Candlewick has published outstanding children’s books for readers of all ages, including books by award-winning authors and illustrators such as current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Mac Barnett, Ambassadors emerita Kate DiCamillo and Meg Medina, Caldecott Medalist Jon Klassen, Christina Soontornvat, M. T. Anderson, Patrick Ness, and Carole Boston Weatherford; the widely acclaimed Judy Moody, Mercy Watson, Princess in Black and ’Ology series; and favorites such as Guess How Much I Love You, Maisy, and Where’s Waldo? by Martin Handford. Candlewick is part of the Walker Books Group. Visit Candlewick online at www.candlewick.com.