Asbury Conference Features Best-selling Children’s Authors
March 13, 2018
March 13, 2018
Wilmore, KY— Have you ever wondered how picture books play a role in education? Want to learn about the creative process behind some of the industry’s bestselling children’s books? Then come to Asbury University’s first ever Children’s Literature Conference, a one-day event promoting awareness of new youth literature (PK-12), on March 24. The event begins at 8 a.m. and continues until 5 p.m. in Asbury’s Miller Center for Communication Arts and Jameson Recital Hall.
General admission is $100 with lunch included ($60 for students). Be one of the first 75 to register and receive an autographed copy of Aaron Reynolds’ book, “Chicks and Salsa.” View full schedule of events.
Presented by Asbury University’s School of Education and Kinlaw Library, in collaboration with Mazza Museum at Findlay University (Ohio), the conference is open to the public and will be helpful to teachers, librarians, pre-service teachers, and parents. Attendees of the conference will attend keynote speeches by the conference’s four featured artists, with separate times designated for autographs. Break-out sessions on incorporating children’s literature into K-12 curriculum will be led by in-service teachers, librarians and storytellers.
Featured artists include Marc Brown, executive producer of “Arthur,” the longest-running animated children’s show in television history. He and his wife are creators of a number of critically acclaimed nonfiction books for children, including “How to Be a Friend: A Guide to Making Friends and Keeping Them.”
“I am excited to participate in the Asbury Children’s Literature Conference and celebrate this wonderful love we all share for children’s literature,” Brown said. “It’s also a learning experience for me to hear what teachers need to help make their job in the classroom a little easier. I look forward to being back in Kentucky and sharing unrevealed parts of my life and work. Sadly, my dancing bears are unable to join me (costume issues).”
Other speakers include Peter Catalanotto, author and illustrator of more than 17 books, who teaches a children’s book writing course offered by Columbia University and Pratt University and was once commissioned by former First Lady Laura Bush to illustrate a White House holiday booklet; Marc Tyler Nobleman, author of several books for all ages including “Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman” and “Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman”; and Reynolds, a New York Times Bestselling Author who has written critically acclaimed books for children, including the Caldecott Honor-winning “Creepy Carrots!”
“Our conference will allow educators in our area to interact with distinguished children’s authors and illustrators,” said Katrina Salley, the coordinator of the conference and Education Librarian for Asbury University’s School of Education. “We firmly believe that contact with authors and illustrators who produce quality literature and participation in professional workshops will equip and inspire them to create literacy rich environments for youth.”
Hosts of break-out sessions include members of Asbury University faculty. Barbara Hamilton, a professor of Education, will discuss the role of technology in language arts. Dr. Cheryll Crowe, chair of the Math Department, will show demonstrate how children’s books can assist math education. Dr. Devin Brown, a professor of English and award-winning author, will speak on developing stories for young children.
Asbury Education students have been involved in the creator of the conference and will also strongly benefit from it. Elementary Education major Katie Cochran ’21 has been a fan of Marc Nobleman and will introduce him during the keynote speeches.
On listening to Nobleman and other featured artists, Cochran said, “I look forward to learning more about how their works have made kids fall in love with reading. As a future teacher, that’s what I want to inspire my kids to do.”
by Cathryn Lien ‘18