The countdown has begun for this year’s Los Angeles Latino Book & Family Festival which will be held October 9th and 10th at California State University. Over 120 Latino authors and artists will be in attendance and nearly 50 panels, readings, and workshops will be offered throughout the weekend. In addition there will be books signings, storytelling, folklorico dances, music and much more. The event is free and all are welcome to attend.

Non-profit organization Latino Literacy Now! launched the Latino Book & Family Festival in 1997 in Los Angeles to promote literacy, culture and education and to provide people of all ages and backgrounds with the opportunity to celebrate the diversity of the multicultural communities in the United States in a festival atmosphere.  Today, the Latino Book & Family Festival is hosted in several major Latino markets across the U.S. including Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles. Well known actor and community activist Edward James Olmos is the co-producer of the festival.

A special fundraiser for this year’s event,  “An Evening with the Authors” takes place on October 9 and gives guests the chance to dine with their favorite authors! During the evening the winners of the 2010 International Latino Book Awards will be honored and the 1st annual Latino Books in to Movies Awards will be presented. To purchase tickets to the dinner click here.

Latino Literacy Now has also joined with Pan American Bank (located at 3626 East First Street, Los Angeles) to host a nine week-long children’s program that will feature prominent Latino children’s book authors. The reading program called The Children’s Reading Hour, will take place at 12pm on Saturdays from Sept 11 – Nov 6.  The first 10 children to show up each Saturday will receive an autographed book. Click  here to see the schedule of authors.

“We are thrilled that the authors will join us in supporting our community’s youth. Reading to children is the best way to encourage literacy and life-long learning. It is also an incredible way to teach important lessons,” said Pan American Bank CEO Jesse Torres. “These Latino authors are not only incredible Latino writers – they are incredible authors, period!”

In recognition of the many positive contributions being made to Latino literature by publishers and writers worldwide, Latino Literacy Now, a non-profit organization that supports and promotes literacy and literary excellence within the Latino community in the USA, created the Latino Book Awards in 1999.

Winners in 50 different categories were announced May 25, 2010, during BookExpo America. The complete list of winners is available for download here.

In addition to these book awards, Latino Literacy Now awards the Latino Literacy Now Lifetime Achievement Award for publishing excellence and, in association with noted actor, director and community activist, Edward James Olmos, hosts  the Latino Book & Family Festival series held annually in Houston, Los Angeles and Chicago.

Preparations for the Los Angeles Latino Book & Family Festival are underway. An outstanding lineup of authors and panels is being put together, as well as performers, and special appearances by celebrities and representatives of the Latino community. To be held at California State University Los Angeles (CSULA), the festival will feature a main stage, a children’s area and stage, and three lecture halls/classrooms for author presentations. More information, including a list of confirmed authors, is available here—and to make sure you receive regular updates, sign up for their newsletter.

Latino Literacy Now, a non-profit organization founded in 1997 by Los Angeles actor and activist Edward James Olmos, has announced the 2008 winners of the Latino Book Awards. English, Spanish, and bilingual books are considered separately.

Hello Night, Hola Noche by Amy Costales (Luna Rising, publisher) was named the best bilingual children’s picture book. Martina the Beautiful Cockroach by Carmen Agra Deedy (Peachtree) got the award for best children’s picture book in English. Martina was also named a Pura Belpre Medal honor book this year. Click here to see other Latino Book Award winners in the children and young adult categories.

Latino Literacy Now also sponsors the Latino Book and Family Festival, annual weekend events to promote literacy, culture and education and to celebrate the diversity of multicultural communities in the United States. This year the festival will be held in Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles.