
Actor, author, podcaster and legendary "Reading Rainbow" host LeVar Burton will emcee the 74th National Book Awards Ceremony & Benefit Dinner, the National Book Foundation announced on Friday. It's a familiar role for Burton, who hosted the event in 2019.
“I’m 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 foundation’s mission to make books accessible to everyone, everywhere. 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."