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Western Hosts 10th Annual Children's Literature Conference Feb. 23

Contact: Sylvia Tag, Western Washington University Librarian, (360) 650-7992, Sylvia.Tag@wwu.edu

BELLINGHAM — The English Department and Woodring College of Education at Western Washington University will host four award-winning children’s authors from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 23 in Western’s Performing Arts Center Concert Hall at Western’s annual Children’s Literature Conference

The conference will include presentations from the authors, lunch, book sales and autograph sessions. This is the 10th anniversary of the conference.

This year, the authors visiting Western are:

  • Katherine Applegate–“The One and Only Ivan”(Starred Reviews in School Library Journal and Kirkus),“Home of the Brave”(Golden Kite Award),“Roscoe Riley Rules”series,“Ծǰ”book series (co-written with Michael Grant).
  • Susan Campbell Bartoletti–“Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler’s Shadow”(Newbery Honor and Sibert Honor), “Black Potatoes: The Great Irish Famine”(Sibert Winner),“They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group”(YALSA Excellence in Non-Fiction Finalist),“Kids on Strike!”(Jane Addams Award).
  • Michael Grant–“Bzrk, Eve and Adam”(co-written with Katherine Applegate),“GDzԱ” series (Best Children’s Novel for“Hunger,” SCBWI 2009), The“Magnificent 12” series.
  • Brian Pinkney–“Time of the Drums”(Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award),“Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down”(Jane Addams Honor Book),“Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and His Orchestra”(Caldecott Honor Award),“Faithful Friend”(Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor),“The Adventures of Sparrowboy.”

“This event has become an annual tradition where many teachers and librarians, readers and writers, gather to celebrate and learn about children’s literature,” Tag said.

The cost to attend is $85 if participants register before Jan. 25, and $99 after. Full-time students and retired teachers receive a discount. A conference flier and registration forms can be accessed at

For more information, call Sylvia Tag at (360) 650-7992.