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!  

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

 
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. 

Speakers TBD 
  

12:55 – 1:40 PM ET | Two concurrent author panels TBD  

 
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 high school English teacher 

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 
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, high school teacher and 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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