On May 2, join us for Open Books, Open Minds: A (Virtual) Celebration of Reading & Literacy! Log in at 11:00 AM ET to visit the exhibit hall, then enjoy a packed day with visionary authors, teachers, librarians, and experts in the field. This event will leave you inspired!  

11:00 – 11:30 AM ET | Exhibit Hall Opens

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM ET | Opening Keynote

Join physician, professor, and New York Times bestselling author Sayantani DasGupta as she discusses the critical role reading and literacy play in children’s development. She will place particular emphasis on the context of diverse writers and characters.  

Introduced by Rebecca T. Miller, MSI Executive Vice President, Publishing & Content

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS
 

12:05 – 12:50 PM ET | Making a Series Commitment

Savvy teachers and librarians have long known that series can invite young people into reading and sustain their interest for long periods. In this resource-packed session, explore the measurable benefits of reading series—both fiction and nonfiction—and gather book recommendations, practical tips, and community-building ideas for supporting the series readers in your life.

Saadia Faruqi, author
Kate Messner, author
Moderator: Donalyn Miller, teacher, author, and consultant

12:05 – 12:50 PM ET | The Short Stack: Finding Reading Time & Engagement with Shorter Texts

The rise in popularity of text formats such as poetry and novels in verse, short story anthologies, collected biographies, and graphic novels offer opportunities for fitting reading into a busy life. In this session, learn about the benefits of reading shorter texts and discover books that entice readers who claim they do not have the time or attention to read.

Tyra Damm, writer/editor with the American Heart Association and contributing columnist The Dallas Morning News 
Brandi Grant, Librarian, Frisco ISD (TX) 
 

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS
 

The Joy of Reading: Why I Write for Young People
 

12:55 – 1:40 PM ET 

Vera Ahiyya (RHCB)
Jarrett Lerner (Simon & Schuster)
Bonnie Kelso (Gnome Road)
Rashin Kheiriyeh (NorthSouth)
Kaz Windness (Simon & Schuster)
Moderator: Ashley Rayner, Librarian at NORC, University of Chicago (IL)

12:55 – 1:40 PM ET 

Veera Hiranandani (PYR)
Stuart Gibbs (Simon & Schuster)
Peter Kahn (PYR)
Tanisia Moore (Scholastic)
Claribel Ortega (Scholastic)
Moderator: Jenny Arch, Children's Librarian, South Hadley Public Library (MA) 
 

1:40 – 2:00 PM ET | Break / Visit the Exhibit Hall

TWO CONCURRENT PANELS
 

2:00 – 2:45 PM ET | Better Together: Activities & Tips for Creating Social Reading Experiences

Many readers report higher engagement with reading when they can share books and reading with other people. Reading and discussing books with a partner or group can increase reading volume and comprehension, too. In this lively session, examine the value and implementation of read alouds, book clubs (including silent ones!), and other social reading experiences.

Cathy Blackler, retired educator and Grams to Havana, Willow and Axel #gramsreadswithhavana #gramsreadswithwillow #gramsreadswithaxel on IG
Sara Clarke-De Reza, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Education and the Director of the Museum, Field, and Community Education program, Washington College (MD)
Jillian Heise, elementary school librarian and founder of #classroombookaday
Moderator: Lynsey Burkins, author and elementary school teacher

2:00 – 2:45 PM ET | IMLS Research Debrief: Motivation, Reading, and Literacy Development

Attend this session to hear about new reading research related to IMLS' learning agenda. The research seeks to learn more about how the social influences of motivation and engagement can strengthen children’s literacy behaviors. Participants will gain insights into actions and activities they could use during child reading programs as they help build a lifelong love of reading.

Emily Plagman, Strategic Research and Evaluation Officer, IMLS
Moderator: TBD

2:50 – 3:35 PM ET | Transformational Partnerships: Improving Literacy Development Through Community Support

As pandemic learning loss, political polarization, and book ban campaigns threaten to undermine advancements in literacy and reading culture, many successful partnerships between schools, libraries, and community stakeholders are changing literacy outcomes for people in their community. In this session, learn about a variety of collaborative efforts between schools, non-profits, businesses, and families that increase access to books, improve literacy rates, and build a community of readers.

Alvin Irby, Founder, Barbershop Books
Marty Martinez, CEO, Reach Out and Read
Nawal Qarooni, author & consultant
Moderator: Hallie Rich, Editor-in-Chief, Library Journal
 

3:40 – 4:25 PM ET | NCTE Heart, Hope, and Humanity: Student Engagement in Elementary Spaces

Join three long-time educators as they discuss methods for engaging elementary students through books, writing, and classroom design. Authors of Deepening Student Engagement with Diverse Picturebooks, Classroom Design for Student Agency, and Cultivating Young Multilingual Writers will be in conversation to share best practices, insights, and tips from their recent books. This session is beneficial for teachers and anyone who works closely with elementary aged kids.

María E. Fránquiz, Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Texas at Austin and NCTE past president
Franki Sibberson, Executive Director of SproutFive’s Institute for Professional Learning
Dr. Angie Zapata, Associate Professor of Language and Literacies Education at the University of Missouri
Moderator: Dr. Tiffany Rehbein, Principal at Bain Elementary School, Cheyenne (WY)

4:25 – 4:55 PM ET | Break / Visit the Exhibit Hall
 

4:55 – 5:40 PM ET | Re-Invisioning the MS/HS Canon

Contemporary voices from across the globe—texts celebrating and respecting the diversity of human experience—invite young people into reading and expand their understanding of themselves and the world. In this session, explore the benefits of re-imagining the “classic” canon by diversifying the texts offered to students and changing the pedagogy around how books are taught and discussed.

Tricia Ebarvia, school administrator, former HS English teacher, author, co-founder of #DisruptTexts
Joy McCullough, author
Kate Roberts, author and former middle school/high school teacher
Ibi Zoboi, author
Moderator: Shelley Diaz, SLJ Reviews Editor
 

5:45 – 6:05 PM ET | NCTE Heart, Hope, and Humanity: Survey on Diverse Texts and Censorship in Public Education

Since 2022, researchers at Colorado State University have conducted a large, national study of teachers’ perspectives and experiences around diverse texts and recent issues of censorship in K-12 public schools. Teachers have been largely overlooked in conversations about book censorship. Join this session to learn more about what the preliminary findings are showing and how they can potentially be used to inform national and state level decision making in the years ahead.

Ricki Ginsberg, Associate Professor and Co-director of English education at Colorado State University
Moderator: Sarah Miller, Senior Coordinator of Intellectual Freedom and Book Initiatives, National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE)
 

6:10 – 7:00 PM ET | NCTE Heart, Hope, and Humanity Closing Keynote: A Community That Cares: Raising Engaged Readers and Citizens

The author/illustrator team of Dan Santat and Minh Lê will join NCTE’s President Elect, Tonya Perry, to discuss the role that picturebooks play in helping young readers to be more engaged as both readers and citizens of the world. The long-term partnership and perspectives of these two creators never fails to shed new light and depth to the works they create and how to bring stories to readers.

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