Deadline to Apply for Children’s Literacy Award is February 20

The deadline to fill out an application for the 2026 Joan Brest Friedberg and Elizabeth “Betty” Segel Children’s Literacy Award is Friday, February 20.

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The children’s literacy award, which began in 2025, is granted to individuals, programs, or organizations demonstrating a commitment to sharing quality diverse books with children and families. Two awardees are selected annually and receive a cash award, plaque, and three books.

The awards ceremony will be held in March in recognition of National Reading Month, and will include conversations with authors, testimonials from BwB staff and volunteers, and acceptance speeches by awardees.

To apply for the award, complete the application form and submit it by midnight on February 20. To submit by email, connect with the program coordinators at wrashia@gmail.com (Dr. Aisha White) and battlecynthia02@gmail.com (Cynthia Battle).

Friedberg and Segel launched the Beginning with Books (BwB) program in 1984 after seeing the need for early literacy support in Pittsburgh. The program grew to include such projects as The Gift Book Program, Best Books for Babies, Project BEACON, the BwB Storymobile, and more.