Programs
The following CBC awards and programs are for the benefit of librarians, teachers, booksellers, parents, all reading supporters, and CBC Member staff. We compile curated book lists and free resources for public use, as well as, prepare events and programming for industry-advancement.
Every Child a Reader
Every Child a Reader is CBC’s 501(c)(3) award-winning literacy charity whose popular national campaigns are: Children’s Book Week, the longest-running literacy initiative in the country for over a century; the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, with the Library of Congress; and Get Caught Reading, a free poster program of role models reading new and classic books, now celebrating its 25th year.
Readers: Visit Every Child a Reader for free resources and more!
Favorites Lists
The FAVORITES Lists are a selection made by thousands of children in all 50 states of their favorite books published each year. The Children’s Book Council collects and presents the annotated lists every Spring. These reading lists are the rebranding of the Choices Lists, an ILA-CBC partnership since 1975, and are used by educators, librarians, and parents for classrooms and library collections.
- Children’s Favorites
- Young Adults Favorites
- Teacher Favorites
- Librarian Favorites
Publishers: learn more about the FAVORITES award, as well as, this and other submission opportunities.
Outstanding Science Trade Books Award
A joint project of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the CBC since 1973, Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12 represents the year’s best science books, chosen by science educators. The selection panel looks for well-presented books that contain substantial science content, that is also clear, accurate, up-to-date, and reflects current scientific research. This list aims to provide high-quality reading resources to be used in and outside of the classroom. To this end, the CBC distributes the final lists to educators, librarians, parents, caregivers, booksellers, and children’s book lovers nationwide.
Publishers: learn more about the OSTB award, as well as, this and other submission opportunities.
Best STEM Books Award
A joint project of the National Science Teachers Association (NSTA) and the CBC, the Best STEM Books aims to provide recommendations to educators, librarians, parents, and guardians for the best children’s books with STEM content. This list aims to provide high-quality reading resources to be used in and outside of the classroom. To this end, the CBC distributes the final lists to educators, librarians, parents, caregivers, booksellers, and children’s book lovers nationwide.
Publishers: learn more about the BSB award, as well as, this and other submission opportunities.
Notable Social Studies Trade Books Award
The Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People is an annual project of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) and the CBC running since 1972. The Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People features K-12 annotated titles published in the previous calendar year that are exceptional books for use in social studies classrooms, selected by social studies educators. This list aims to provide high-quality reading resources to be used in and outside of the classroom. To this end, the CBC distributes the final lists to educators, librarians, parents, caregivers, booksellers, and children’s book lovers nationwide.
Publishers: learn more about the NSSTB award, as well as, this and other submission opportunities.
Building a Home Library
The CBC works in partnership with the American Library Association to connect publishers and librarians over issues and topics of importance to both. They create lists that provide guidance to parents, caregivers, educators, librarians, booksellers, and anyone interested in discovering books for children.
- Building a Home Library: These diverse, high-quality library lists are organized by age groups (from 0 to 14) and feature under-the-radar gems and notable new reads on a variety of topics to help families create at-home libraries.
- Reading Beyond: For those seeking more challenging, but still age-appropriate, books for children who read at an advanced level. [NOTE: This list is no longer updated, but past editions are still available as a resource.]
Goddard Riverside-CBC Young People’s Book Prize for Social Justice
This annual book prize was created in 2020 with Goddard Riverside, a vital social services organization, and is given annually in celebration of books for young readers that represent urban life and themes of community, compassion, and equality.
Readers: learn more about the Goddard-CBC Social Justice Prize and its winning books.
Curated Reading Lists
- Hot Off the Press: Features CBC member titles being published in the current month
- CBC Showcase: A thematic list that features both front and backlist titles. A new theme and titles are featured quarterly.
- Inclusivity Resources: Curated collections of book lists and resources available on our member publishers’ sites and other organizations.
- CBC Hot Off the Press Spotlight: Collections that showcase new books from our current Hot Off the Press list around one topic to further assist parents, teachers, librarians, booksellers, and other book enthusiasts in finding the perfect read.
CBC Members: learn more about submitting to these lists.
Partner Organizations
The CBC works with many partner organizations throughout the year on reading campaigns, awards, and more. These include Little Free Libraries, Screen-Free Week, the ALA, the ABA, the Mathical Award, Read Your World, Reading is Fundamental, KidLitTV, First Book, Multicultural Children’s Book Day, and many others.
CBC Ed. Talks
CBC Ed Talks are quarterly educational virtual panels for CBC member publisher staff created by CBC committees that address important topics in the children’s book world. These events feature a variety of topics of interest to publishing professionals across departments and job levels.
CBC Members: watch videos of the Ed. Talks programs.
CBC Diversity Committee
The CBC Diversity Committee coordinates our work to participate in the Lee & Low survey, create education panels on key topics of concern in the industry, and compile extensive resources for the book community on diversity best practices, outside professional advice, and more. CBC Diversity Initiative has advocated for an inclusive and representative children’s publishing industry since 2012.
Learn more about the Diversity Committee.
CBC members: watch videos of the CBC Diversity events.
Graphic Novel Committee
The CBC Graphic Novel Committee works to expand the presence and legitimacy of children’s and young adult graphic novels through programming at various conventions and ComicCons. The committee has sponsored and provided the panelists for programming at ComicCon International, New York ComicCon, Emerald City ComicCon, BookCon, BookExpo, and more.
Learn more about the Graphic Novel Committee.
CBC Members: watch videos of the Graphic Novel Committee events.
Early Career Committee
Through dynamic programming created by the industry’s young professionals, the Children’s Book Council’s Early Career Committee (ECC) offers career development, a friendly social community, and networking and volunteer opportunities. Employees of CBC member publishers are invited to attend. The ECC also distributes a newsletter and contributes content to the CBC Blog, including resources, articles, interviews, and more.
Learn more about the Early Career Committee.
CBC Members: watch videos of the ECC events.
CBC Mid-Level Career Committee
An all-new CBC committee will pick up where the Early Career Committee leaves off, offering support, networking, continuing education, mentorship, and resources to publishing professionals in years 5-15 of their careers.
Learn more about the Mid-Level Career Committee.
CBC Members: watch videos of the Mid-Level Career Committee events.
Fight Against Book Bans Committee
The CBC Fight Against Book Bans Committee supports, networks, mentors, and provides resources to anyone interested or involved in the fight against censorship.
Learn more about the Fight Against Book Bans Committee.
READ about our work since 2020 in the fight against book bans.
CBC Annual Meeting
Open to employees of member publishers, the CBC’s Annual Meeting reviews the business of the only national trade association for children’s book publishers. A guest speaker is invited each year to address a topic of interest to the industry at large. Previous speakers at the Annual Meeting include:
- Lee Rowland
- Jason Reynolds
- Christopher Myers
- Sonia Manzano
- Dr. Maryanne Wolf
- Duncan Watts
- Brooke Gladstone
CBC members: watch videos and slideshows from CBC Annual Meetings.
