The National Book Foundation is celebrating its next milestone with the help of special guests Kate McKinnon and Jon Batiste.
PEOPLE can exclusively reveal that the 75th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner, which takes place on Wednesday, November 20, at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City, will be hosted by McKinnon and will feature a musical performance by Batiste.
It’s a landmark event for the foundation, marking “75 years of honoring the best literature published in the United States,” David Steinberger, chairman of the National Book Foundation’s Board of Directors, said in a statement.
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“Kate McKinnon and Jon Batiste are two unique artists, writers and performers who have given audiences around the world the opportunity to listen, laugh and learn,” continues Steinberger. “We couldn’t be more proud to join them in celebrating the power of exceptional books at this year’s award ceremony and charity dinner.”
Jon Batiste.
David Needleman
The annual event will recognize the best works in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, translated literature, youth literature and lifetime achievement award winners — something Batiste is honored to be a part of.
“Books are sacred sources of refuge, insight and humanity, shaping the world as we know it. I am excited to participate in recognizing the world-class, artistry, creativity and power of prose,” he said in a statement shared with PEOPLE.
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Kate McKinnon.
Alexandra Carillo-Vaccino
McKinnon, whose first book, Millicent Quibb School of Etiquette for Mad Science Young Ladieswhich hit shelves earlier this month, shares similar sentiments, saying in a statement shared with PEOPLE that she’s honored to celebrate “the power of books to change lives while also honoring some of today’s most brilliant storytellers.”
“I was fortunate to grow up surrounded by books, devouring everything from Pippi Longstocking to a comprehensive handbook on proper iguana care, and this access to stories and perspectives helped shape my worldview and understanding of what’s possible,” she continues. “The National Book Foundation works to ensure that everyone has access to books, and I’m proud to support that mission.”
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For more information on the 75th National Book Awards Gala & Benefit Dinner and to register to watch the online broadcast, visit the National Book Awards.
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Source: HIS Education