Western to Host 13th Annual Children's Literature Conference on Feb. 27

Western Washington University will host four award-winning children’s and young adult book authors and illustrators from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27, at Western’s Performing Arts Center as part of Western’s 13th Annual Children’s Literature Conference.

The conference brings together teachers, librarians, readers, and writers to celebrate children’s literature and reflect on how children’s books shape the experience of growing up.

This year’s speakers include: Peter Brown, Cynthia Lord, Melissa Sweet, and Gene Luen Yang, who was just named the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature by the Library of Congress. Yang is the first graphic novelist to receive the honor since the post was created in 2008.

In honor of Yang’s recognition, the early bird registration deadline for the conference has been extended to midnight on Monday, Jan. 25.

Registration is open and available through the conference website at wwuclc.com.  The cost to attend is $125 if registered before the early bird deadline of Monday, Jan. 25, or $175 after the early bird deadline. Discounts are available for students, para-professionals, retired teachers, or groups. Clock hours are also available.

The day will include author and illustrator presentations, book sales and autographs, a question-and-answer panel, and an announcement of the 2017 visiting speakers.

About this year’s featured speakers:

Peter Brown is a critically-acclaimed author and illustrator of children’s picture books, including “Mr. Tiger Goes Wild,” winner of a 2014 Horn Book Award and Golden Kite Award for Illustration; “The Curious Garden,” winner of several awards including the E.B. White Read-Aloud Picture Book Award; the Lucy bear series; and “My Teacher is a Monster! (No I Am Not.).”  Brown illustrated “The Creepy Carrots” by Aaron Reynolds, which was a 2013 Caldecott Honor book. He will publish his first novel for kids “The Wild Robot” in April 2016.

On the web: http://www.peterbrownstudio.com

Cynthia Lord is an award-winning author of middle grade novels and picture books. In 2007, she won a Newberry Honor for her debut novel “Rules”, which is about a 12-year-old girl’s story growing up with an autistic brother. Her novels “Touch Blue”, “Half a Chance”, and “A Handful of Stars” are the recipient of numerous awards and honors. She is also the author of the “Hot Rod Hamster” and “Shelter Pet Squad” picture book series.

On the web: http://www.cynthialord.com

Melissa Sweet is the illustrator of nearly 100 children’s books, ranging from picture books to non-fiction titles. Two of her illustrated biographies have garnered Caldecott Honors: “A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin” by Jen Bryant, honored in 2014, and “A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams” by Jen Bryant, honored in 2008. Her collage-style illustrations and paintings have appeared in the New York Times, Martha Stewart Living, Madison Park Greetings, the e-card website Smilebox and eeBoo toys. She has authored and illustrated three books, including the award-winning “Balloons Over Broadway: The True Story of the Puppeteer of Macy’s Parade”, which earned her the Orbis Pictus Award for informational books, and the Cook Prize, an honor for a STEM (science, technology, engineering & math) picture book.

On the web:  http://melissasweet.net

Gene Luen Yang is a Chinese-American author and illustrator of graphic novels and comic books. His 2006 novel “American Born Chinese” was the first graphic novel to win the American Library Association’s Printz Award, and also won the Eisner Award for Best Graphic Novel. In 2013, he authored “Boxers & Saints”, a two-volume graphic novel about the 1900 Boxer Rebellion in China. The book won the L.A. Times Book Prize and was a National Book Award finalist. He has illustrated for comic book publishers Dark Horse Comics and DC Comics. Currently he teaches creative writing for Hamline University’s MFA in Writing for Children & Adults. In January 2016, Yang was named the National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature by the Library of Congress.

On the web:  http://geneyang.com

To find out more information about the conference, please visit http://wwuclc.com