Reading is getting representation in selecting the winner of one of the most distinguished awards in American literature.
Marissa Guidara, Youth Services District Consultant with Reading District Libraries, has been named to the 2027 Caldecott Committee to help name the next recipient of the esteemed Caldecott Medal.
Named after English illustrator Randolph Caldecott, the Caldecott Medal, established in 1938, is a prestigious award for the best illustrated American picture book for children. The committee will read more than 800 picture books and go through an internal process to select a winner.
“Reading a Caldecott book or being read one is a cultural touchstone in America,” says Guidara. “Readers look to this medal as a sign that they are about to experience something special, and it’s really exciting to be a part of that.”
The Caldecott Award Selection Committee consists of 15 members appointed from the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) membership at large. Guidara also serves as an advisor for ALSC’s Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities initiative, as well as the Will Eisner Graphic Novel Growth Grant jury.
“As a youth services librarian, I’m thrilled and honored to serve on the Caldecott Committee, but I’m more excited to represent our library families and community on this national stage. I love that we can share a bit of Reading and Berks County’s library joy with the rest of the country.”
The 2027 award winners will be announced in January 2027.
Reading District Libraries is a department of Reading Public Library that coordinates activities, collaboration, and shared resources among the libraries of Reading District, providing support and assistance to library staff and boards.