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The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the ÂÜÀòÍøÊÓƵ (ALA), has announced that the Aram Public Library is the recipient of the 2024 Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award. Established with funding from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, in honor of Maureen Hayes, this award provides up to $4,000 to an ALSC member’s library to fund a visit from an author/illustrator to speak with children who might not otherwise have the opportunity to hear from a nationally known author/illustrator.

The Aram Public Library in Delavan, Wisconsin, will be hosting author and illustrator Raúl the Third this summer. With this event, the library hopes to “strengthen literacy, artistic creativity and endeavors.” The Aram Public Library will partner with the Delavan-Darien School District and Reads by the River. These community connections will enable them to widely promote the event, host programs in multiple locations, and offer book signings and art kits as a part of the event.

Co-chairs Maren Ostergard and Sarah French noted, “The committee was impressed by the Aram Public Library’s thorough proposal, featuring collaborative partnerships, to host a bilingual author/illustrator who can inspire families with his stories and artwork.”

“We selected Raúl the Third due to his strong artistic and writing endeavors, the dual-language elements and captivating comic-book-like imagery, and because he will appeal to the youth and adults in our community with his Mexican American heritage,” said Katherine Schoofs, Assistant Director/Youth Services Librarian at the Aram Public Library.

Michelle Leo, VP, Director of Education & Library Marketing for Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, said, “We are delighted that Raúl the Third will visit the Aram Public Library because of the Maureen Hayes Award. We are proud to continue to support this worthwhile program that celebrates the love of books and their creators.”

ALSC, a division of the ALA, is the world’s largest organization dedicated to the support and enhancement of library service to children. With a network of more than 4,000 children’s and youth librarians, literature experts, publishers and educational faculty, ALSC is committed to creating a better future for children through libraries. To learn more about ALSC, visit ALSC’s website at .