Kyle Lukoff to deliver 2025 Children’s Literature Lecture

BALTIMORE — Author Kyle Lukoff will deliver the 2025 Children’s Literature Lecture. The announcement was made today by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), during LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience held Jan. 19-22 in Baltimore.

“Kyle's impactful and approachable storytelling invites in all children through humor and warmth and often centers vital trans and queer narratives,” stated 2025 Children’s Literature Lecture Award Committee Chair Jenna Friebel.

Kyle is the author of the middle grade novel “Too Bright to See,” a 2022 Newbery Honor book, Stonewall Award winner, and a National Book Award finalist. He also wrote the Stonewall Award winning picture book “When Aidan Became a Brother.” His first nonfiction work is “If You’re a Kid Like Gavin,” co-authored by trans activist Gavin Grimm. Prior to becoming a full-time writer, Kyle was a bookseller and librarian.

The Children’s Literature Lecturer, announced annually, may be an author, illustrator, editor, critic, librarian, historian, or teacher of children’s literature, of any country, who shall prepare a paper considered to be a significant contribution to the field of children’s literature. The paper is delivered as a lecture each April or May and is subsequently published in Children and Libraries, the journal of ALSC. Once the name is made public, institutions wanting to host the lecture may apply. A library school, department of education in a college or university, or a public library system may be considered. Applications to host the lecture will be available online from ALSC at www.ala.org/alsc this spring.

Members of the 2025 Children’s Literature Lecture Award Committee are chair Jenna Friebel, Oak Park Public Library, Illinois; Paris Kelvakis, Canton Public Library, Michigan; Ruth Tobar, Grand Rapids, Michigan; Janet R. Weber, Tigard Public Library, Oregon; and Lucinda S. Whitehurst, St. Christopher’s School, Richmond, Virginia.

ALSC is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers, and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit their website at http://www.ala.org/alsc.

For more information on the Children’s Literature Lecture Award and other ALA Youth Media Awards, please visit www.ala.org/yma.

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 www.ala.org.

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