Jacqueline Woodson
Two well-known authors of books for youngsters – Jacqueline Woodson and David LaRochelle – will be featured at the 21st annual Hubbs Children’s Literature Conference Saturday, Feb. 23, on the downtown Minneapolis campus of University of St. Thomas.
The conference is open to anyone: authors, illustrators, teachers, parents, storytellers, librarians, students and others interested in encouraging the use of quality children’s literature in homes, schools and communities.
Woodson, of Brooklyn, has won many of the top awards in the field of children’s literature. She has received three Newberry Honor Medals, a National Book Award, the Caldecott Medal, the Coretta Scott King Award and her Each Kindness was named Best Book of 2012 by the School Library Journal.
LaRochelle, of White Bear Lake, is a 1983 St. Olaf College graduate and former grade school teacher whose first book, A Christmas Guest, was published in 1988. He has since written or illustrated more than 25 books. His Best Pet of All won a Minnesota Book Award and was read aloud by Reese Witherspoon at the 2010 Easter Egg Roll at the White House.
David LaRochelle
The 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. conference includes talks by Woodson and LaRochelle and a series of breakout sessions. The Red Balloon Bookstore will be there with a collection of children’s books and literature available for purchase.
The conference is sponsored by the School of Education, part of St. Thomas’ College of Education, Leadership and Counseling, and is supported by an endowment by Margaret and the late Ronald Hubbs. The couple also provided funds for the St. Thomas libraries’ children’s literature collection.
The cost of the conference is $60 for general admission and $20 for students. Five continuing education units are available. To register or for more information contact St. Thomas at (651) 962-4441 or celcevents@stthomas.edu.
For more information visit the conference website.
