Join us for the 70th Anniversary of the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award and Chicago Public Library’s 150th Anniversary
On Tuesday, April 25, 2023, from 10:00-11:30am (Central Time) the Jane Addams Peace Association will celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award in honoring “children’s books of literary and aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people.” This will be a joint celebration at the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 South State Street in Chicago, with the Chicago Public Library, which is celebrating its 150th Anniversary.
The Jane Addams Children’s Book Award began in 1953 as a project of the U.S. branch of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). That year, WILPF member Martha Teele of Ithaca, New York, sent out an invitation to U.S. book publishers and authors of children’s books to submit titles for consideration for the newly envisioned Jane Addams Children’s Book Award.
Seventy years later, the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award is still annually recognizing “children’s books of literary and aesthetic excellence that effectively engage children in thinking about peace, social justice, global community, and equity for all people.” We hope that you will join us for a morning of celebration and enlightenment.
RSVP HERE!
The Jane Addams Peace Association visits Pelham Academy for our “Books in Their Hands” Program
Last month, we had the privilege of taking our “Books in Their Hands” Program, with author Aida Salazar, to Pelham Academy of Academics and Community Engagement in the Bronx, New York. Pelham Academy is a small Bronx middle school designed and dedicated to ensuring that students grow and develop into well- rounded thinkers and doers. They expose students to opportunities within and beyond their communities, and have a strong focus on developing students academically and emotionally so that they are confident and competitive when they transition into high school.
Students had the chance to learn and listen from Aida Salazar, who talked with them about her Jane Addams Honor Book for Older Children, Land of the Cranes. The novel is a heart-wrenchingly beautiful story of a young Latinx girl who learns to hold on to hope and love even in the darkest of places: a family detention center for migrants and refugees.
In the past year, Jane Addams Children’s Book-winning and honored authors and artists have visited schools in Chicago (IL), Fresno (CA), Brooklyn (NY) and Newark (NJ), through our Books in Their Hands Program.
Now we are ready to expand our program to you! If you are part of a Title 1/low-income school, you are eligible to apply for the “Books in Their Hands” program. A link to our application is below. As a part of our “Books In Their Hands” program, we also donate Jane Addams Children’s Book Award commended titles to each student in your classroom.
Apply Now!
Community Highlight
Chicago Public Library
Since first opening their doors in 1873, the Chicago Public Libraries have served all Chicagoans with free and open places to gather, learn, connect, read, and be transformed. With over 80 locations across the Chicagoland area, CPL provides the innovative library services, technologies and tools Chicagoans need to reach their goals.
Through the generosity of the Chicago Public Library Foundation, CPL offer programs for people of all ages including YOUmedia, an innovative 21st century teen learning space, Maker Lab, Chicago’s first free and publicly accessible maker space, which features introductory workshops and open shop for personal projects and collaboration, and One Book, One Chicago which is an opportunity to engage and enlighten residents and to foster a sense of community through reading.
Although the Chicago Public Library has changed dramatically since their beginnings in an abandoned water tower after the Great Chicago Fire, their mission has remained constant: They welcome and support all people in their enjoyment of reading and pursuit of lifelong learning. Working together, they strive to provide equal access to information, ideas and knowledge through books, programs and other resources. CPL believes in the freedom to read, to learn, to discover ,and we are honored to be partnering with them for our anniversary celebration.
Learn More About Chicago Public Library Here!
The Jane Addams Peace Association Just Earned
Our 2023 Gold Seal!
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The Candid Seals of Transparency on GuideStar help organizations demonstrate our transparency to potential funders and donors. We want to make sure you have the progress updates you need to confidently support our work with trust and confidence.
You can check out our #NonprofitProfile to see the great work we do for our community.
Support Our Work
The Jane Addams Peace Association perpetuates the spirit of activist and pacifist Jane Addams, her love for children and humanity, her commitment to freedom and democracy, and her devotion to the cause of world peace.
Your donation to the Jane Addams Peace Association, a 501(c)(3) organization, is tax-deductible and helps us support authors, illustrators, parents, teachers, and librarians “deepen understanding of peace and justice for children and their adults through reflection, dialogue, and social action.”