LeVar Burton, the longtime host of PBSReading Rainbowand current host of theLeVar Burton Readspodcast, has been selected to host next monthsNational Book Awardsceremony in New York City, replacing the previously named and subsequently dropped Drew Barrymore.
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, in a statement.
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 years Ceremony & Benefit Dinner.
LeVar BurtonAraya Doheny/Getty Images for STARZ
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The statement made no mention of Barrymore, who last month was dropped as host by the Foundation after news broke that Barrymore would resume her daytime talk show despite the then-ongoing Writers Guild strike.
Our commitment is to ensure that the focus of the Awards remains on celebrating writers and books, the Foundation said at the time, and we are grateful to Ms. Barrymore and her team for their understanding in this situation.
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The 74th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner is set for November 15 at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City.
Im a big believer in the power of the written word, Burton said in a statement, and am proud to stand alongside the National Book Foundation to celebrate exceptional storytelling and the Foundations mission to make books accessible to everyone, everywhere.
Its 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.
In addition to his acting career credits includeStar Trek: The Next GenerationandRoots Burton is a longstanding literacy advocate, from hostingReading Rainbowto serving as executive producer of the 2023 documentaryThe Right To Read.
He hosted the 2019 National Book Awards ceremony, and most recently served as the Honorary Chair of Banned Books Week 2023, an annual week-long series of events that draws attention to the rising movement of book censorship in the United States.
The National Book Award Winners in the categories of Fiction, Nonfiction, Poetry, Translated Literature, and Young Peoples Literature will be announced live at the November 15 ceremony.
