Legendary actor LeVar Burton will host next month’s National Book Awards ceremony! He’s replacing the original choice, Drew Barrymore. Her leaving the post is due to resuming filming of her talk show.
Burton has been a longtime advocate for reading, with many growing up with him hosting the children’s program “Reading Rainbow.” Even serving as honorary chair of Banned Books Week, where stores and libraries highlight works that have been challenged or censored, earlier this month. He is also known for his roles on the TV miniseries “Roots,” “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Picard“, as well as playing himself on “Community.”
The National Book Awards are American literary prizes administered by the National Book Foundation, a nonprofit organization. Established in 1950, a slew of well-respected writers have received the honor including William Faulkner, John Updike, Katherine Anne Porter, Norman Mailer, Alice Walker, and Ta-Nehisi Coates. This will be Burton’s second time hosting the awards, his first being in 2019.
“LeVar Burton has introduced multiple generations of young people to the joys of reading, and is a fearless advocate for book access, especially amidst the alarming rise in book banning across the country,” said David Steinberger, Chair of the Board of Directors of the National Book Foundation. “We are delighted to welcome LeVar back onto the National Book Awards stage, alongside special guest Oprah Winfrey, to champion the power of literature as the host this year’s Ceremony & Benefit Dinner.”
“I’m a big believer in the power of the written word, and am proud to stand alongside the National Book Foundation to celebrate exceptional storytelling and the Foundation’s mission to make books accessible to everyone, everywhere,” said Burton. “It’s an honor to return as host of the biggest night for books, especially in a moment when the freedom to read is at risk and literature both needs and deserves our recognition and support.”
The 74th National Book Awards will be held on November 15th at the Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. Winners will be announced in five categories Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young People’s Literature. Along with poet Rita Dove receiving a Lifetime Achievement medal.
