• Hundreds of children's literature associations promote worldwide literacy.Lisa Stirling/Digital Vision/Getty Images
  
  Across the globe, hundreds of literary societies, councils and associations work to preserve and promote literary works for children and young adults. Regional organizations have sprung up to sustain local children's authors and small publishing houses from individual states. Larger institutes support emerging writers and illustrators worldwide.
  
  

Children's Literature Association

• Headquartered in Battle Creek, Michigan, the Children's Literature Association (ChLA) maintains a mission "to encourage high standards of criticism, scholarship, research, and teaching in children's literature." The organization was the brainchild of Western Michigan University professor Anne Devereaux Jordan, who was in search of critical analysis for literary works written for children. Today, the organization puts out quarterlies and newsletters on children's literature, features professional opportunities in the genre, gives awards to individuals and organizations of children's literature, as well critical essays written by both students and professionals. The ChLA site also features a number of resource links for individuals researching youth literature topics such as mythology, folklore and multiculturalism.
  
  

Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators

• Fondly referred to by various pronunciations of its acronym, SCBWI is one of the largest organizations of illustrators and writers in any genre. Founded in 1971, the assembly includes publishers, agents, librarians, educators and booksellers, as well as writers and illustrators. Over 70 regional chapters that put on dozens of regional conferences around the world annually have sprung from the larger association. The organization also sponsors two International Conference each year in New York and Los Angeles where individuals both new and established in the industry can network. Aside from conferences, SCBWI offers a number of awards and grants for writers, illustrators and educational institutions, including the prominent Golden Kite Award, which is the only major award in children's literature presented to authors by their peers.
  
  

Children's Book Council

• A national non-profit organization that began as an event known as Children's Book Week back in 1919 put on by the Association of Children's Book Editors, the CBC has maintained its focus on procuring quality children's literature to promote childhood literacy. The CBC continues its sole sponsorship of Children's Book Week to this day, an event that is now run by the organization's philanthropic sister company called Every Child a Reader. The May event takes place in 10 host cities across the country with dozens of local events in smaller communities, bringing together readers and publishers during a week of book release parties, story-times, and galas during which CBC hands out their Children's Choice Book Awards. Beyond Book Week, the organization produces book lists and provides exclusive benefits for members who must be active in the children's literature publishing industry.