 Last week I participated in the wonderful Charlotte Huck Children’s Literature Festival, held at the University of Redlands, in Redlands, California, named in honor of Charlotte S. Huck (1922-2005), who championed children’s literature throughout her long life and career. The festival brings educators, librarians, parents and students together with award-winning speakers and celebrates children's literature and the inspiration it brings to young readers. Featured speakers this year included Cynthia Leitich Smith, Lee Wardlaw, Liz Garton Scanlon, Marla Frazee and Deborah Hopkinson. Between the featured speeches we had many choices of breakout sessions. I presented a breakout session on Saturday morning called Unsung Women in California History: Putting Them On the Map in Picture Book Biographies, featuring fun projects and classroom activities linked to my book KEEPER OF THE LIGHT, about Angel Island light keeper Juliet Nichols. I thoroughly enjoyed going to several of the other breakout sessions. I heard Deborah Hopkinson, Kristine O’Connell George, Joan Graham and Lisa Silverman. It was hard to choose!
Participants in the conference had the opportunity to buy books and have them autographed during the festive (and delicious) reception at the end of the afternoon on Friday. This was my fifth time at the Charlotte Huck Children's Literature Festival and I thoroughly enjoyed it once again. The success of the conference is due to Chair Marjorie Arnett and the hardworking Festival committee, whose members work tirelessly throughout the year to make sure everything runs smoothly. They are already at work on next year’s Festival! |
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| View from the Redlands University campus of the San Bernardino Mountains. |
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