Calling all poetry fans in the Chicago area! The ALSC (Association for Library Service to Children) sends out an invitation to join in their Poetry Blast on Monday, July 13, 2009 from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Co-hosted by librarian Barbara Genco and poet/writer Marilyn Singer, this unique program will celebrate the wonder and excitement of contemporary North American poetry for children. Ten to twelve poets, some new, some well-established, will read from their works. Information about current and forthcoming books of poetry will be available.

This event is designed to be a ‘drop-in’ reading at the close of the ALA Annual Conference and attendees are guaranteed to find the time spent in these readings both enlightening and energizing. Poets include: Carmen T. Bernier-Grand, Rebecca Kai Dotlich, David Harrison, Bobbi Katz, Laura Purdie Salas, Jon Scieszka, Joyce Sidman, Marilyn Singer, Hope Anita Smith, Susan Marie Swanson, Joyce Carol Thomas. Publishers will also offer a display of books and promotional materials featuring the participants.

(Click on event name for more information)

Exhibition of Prize-Winning Works of 16th Noma Concours (2008) “Palette of Dream Colours IV”~ ongoing until Jul 5, Tokyo, Japan

The Nye Memorial Children’s Literature Tour of the Ukraine~ ongoing until Jul 10, Ukraine

READ!Singapore 2009 – Dreaming A Good Read~ ongoing until Aug 31, Singapore

Enchanted Worlds – Art of Fairy Stories & Mermaid Tales exhibition~ ongoing until Sep 5, Lancashire, United Kingdom

Picture Perfect: Art from Caldecott Award Books, 2006-2009~ ongoing until Nov 8, 2010, Chicago, IL, USA

Exhibition – Drawings from the Heart: Tomie de Paola Turns 75 ~ Jul 3 – Nov 1, Amherst, MA, USA

Kids and Young Adult Literature Festival~ Jul 4 – 5, Rozelle, Australia

West Cork Literary Festival~ Jul 5 – 11, Bantry, Ireland

NAIDOC Week~ Jul 5 – 12, Australia

Asterisks and Obelisks: Classical Receptions in Children’s Literature~ Jul 6 – 10, Lampeter, United Kingdom

Worlds in Dialogue Conference~ Jul 8 – 11, Potchefstroom, South Africa

Storytellers of Canada Annual Conference~ Jul 8 – 12, Victoria, BC, Canada

SCBWI British Isles Hosts an Evening with Tamarind Books Founder Verna Wilkins~ Jul 9, London, United Kingdom

Tokyo International Book Fair~ Jul 9 – 12, Tokyo, Japan

American Library Association (ALA) Annual Conference~ Jul 9 – 15, Chicago, IL, USA

Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Program and Meeting Schedule at the ALA Annual Conference~ Jul 9 – 15, Chicago, IL, USA

Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Program and Meeting Schedule at the ALA Annual Conference~ July 9 – 15, Chicago, IL, USA

National Conference for Teachers of English and Literacy~ Jul 9 – 12, Hobart, Australia

SHCY Biennial Conference: Children and Youth at Risk and Taking Risks: Historical Inquiries in International Perspective~ Jul 10-12, Berkeley, CA, USA

The 45th UKLA International Conference Making Connections: Building Literate Communities in and Beyond Classrooms~ Jul 10 – 12, London, United Kingdom

USBBY/YALSA Present Mixing it Up: The Process of Bringing International Children’s Books to the US~ Jul 11, Chicago, IL, USA

Creative Exchange: The Bologna Experience with Ayano Imai, Kiyo Tanaka and Shimako Okamura~ Jul 11, Tokyo, Japan

2009 Bologna Illustrators Exhibition of Children’s Books~ Jul 11 – Aug 16, Tokyo, Japan

Children’s Books Ireland Wild About Books Day~ Jul 12, Dublin, Ireland

10th Annual Pacific Northwest Children’s Book Conference~ Jul 13 – 17, Portland, OR, USA

20th Annual Children’s Book Fair~ Jul 13 – Aug 1, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Voices on the Coast, A Youth Literature Festival~ Jul 14 – 18, Sunshine Coast, Australia

2nd National Conference on Children’s Literature~ Jul 16 – 17, Diliman, Philippines

Harlem Book Fair~ Jul 17 – 19, Harlem, NY, USA

18th Storytelling Festival at the Edge~ Jul 17 – 19, Stokes Barn, United Kingdom

Kathalaya’s Intensive Course on Art of Storytelling~ Jul 20 – 25, Bangalore, India

16th European Conference on Reading and 1st Ibero-American Forum on Literacies: Discovering Worlds of Literacy~ Jul 19 – 22, Braga, Portugal

Racial Harmony Day~ Jul 21, Singapore

National Children’s Book Day~ Jul 21, Philippines

20th Annual Hong Kong Book Fair~ Jul 22 – 28, Hong Kong

Lima International Book Fair~ Jul 23 – Aug 5, Lima, Peru

Montana Poetry Day~ Jul 24, New Zealand

Latin American Regional Conference/Congreso Latinoamericano~ Jul 30 – Aug 1, Lima, Peru

Lee & Low Books, an independent children’s book publisher focused on diversity, will be taking part in the upcoming American Library Association Annual Conference, July 9 – 15 in Chicago, IL. Attendees are invited to Lee & Low’s Booth 2260 for book signings by authors Christine Taylor-Butler, Lulu Delacre, W. Nikola-Lisa, Janet Halfmann, Eloise Greenfield, R. Gregory Christie, and Shadra Strickland. Lee & Low will also be giving away bookmarks, posters, and more! See the complete signing schedule here.