Date: 6/4/08
Contact: Kathy Beal
Illinois State University’s Department of English will host the 35th annual Children’s Literature Association conference at the Chateau Hotel and Conference Center in Bloomington on June 12-14. The conference theme is “ReImagining Normal.” Conference participants will analyze a broad range of historical and contemporary children’s literature and culture, paying particular attention to the implications of what “normal” means.
Keynote speakers include Illinois State alumnus and Caldecott medal-winner Eric Rohmann, folklorist Betsy Hearne and children’s author Janice Harrington. Liz Goodenough’s film “Where Do the Children Play” will also be featured.
Annually, the Children’s Literature Association presents the Phoenix Award to an outstanding children’s book that has withstood the test of time. British author Peter Dickinson will receive the Phoenix award for his novel Eva at the conference banquet on Saturday, June 14.
