The International Awards is now by far the largest Latino cultural Awards in the USA and with the 276 finalists this year in 105 categories, it has now honored the greatness of 3,470 authors and publishers over the past two decades.
The size of the Awards is proof that books by and about Latinos are in high demand. In 2020 Latinos did purchase over $750 million in books in English and Spanish. The 23rd International Latino Book Awards Ceremony will be held this year, again virtually, October 16 and 17 via www.LatinoBookAwards.org.
The Awards are designed to cover all types of books: Childrens, NonFiction, Fiction, Poetry, Translation, and more. Presenters for the Awards include Legends who have helped the Latino community develop and whom we have awards named after: Alma Flor Ada, Isabel Allende, Charlie Eriksen, Juan Felipe Herrera, Dolores Huerta, and Ambassador Julian Nava among others. Important latino organizations in the U.S such as REFORMA, La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, the Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities, LULAC and UnidosUS are just a few names among the supporters.
The 2021 Finalists for the 23rd Annual International Latino Book Awards are another re!ection of the growing quality of books by and about Latinos. About 42% of the winners were from major U.S. and Int’l publishers, up from 19% years ago. In order to handle this large number of books, the Awards had 198 judges in 2021.
The judges shared how hard it was because there are now so many great books being published. Judges included librarians, educators, media professionals, leaders of national organizations, and Pulitzer Prize Winners. The Awards celebrates books in English, Spanish and Portuguese. Finalists are from across the USA, Puerto Rico, and 19 other countries.
The Awards are produced by Empowering Latino Futures, a non profit organization co-founded in 1997 by Hollywood actor Edward James Olmos and Kirk Whisler. Other ELF programs include the Latino Book & Family Festival, currently being held virtually at www.LBFF.us. The International Society of Latino Authors now has 140+ members. Education Begins in the Home has supplied books to more than 155,000 young readers.
The Latino & American Indian Scholarship Directory has been used by 182,000 students. More than 80 episodes of the Latino Reads Podcast have now aired. ELF’s programs have now touched over a million people. 350 volunteers annually donate 14,000+ hours of service.
The Awards Ceremony will be held virtually October Current and past sponsors have included AALES, AARP, American Library Association, Atria Publishing, Book Expo America, California State University System, California State University Dominguez Hills, California State University San Bernardino, Entravision, Independent Book Publishers Association, Las Comadres para las Americas, Libros Publishing, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Community College District, MAAC, MAOF, MiraCosta College, Piping Industry Progress & Education Trust Fund, Scholastic Books, and Visa. ELF has recently gotten grants from Amazon, LULAC, SDGE, and the SBA. More info: www.LatinoBookAwards.org.
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