Event Date: October 25, 2011
CHILDREN'S LITERATURE FESTIVAL
Reading is FUNdamental. It's more than a slogan. It's an established fact. Success in school and success in life demands that children acquire solid reading skills. The role of teachers is crucial, but the late Moline teacher and children's author David R. Collins hoped to help teachers inspire a love of reading and writing among children by exposing them to the writers and illustrators behind the books they read. Thus was born the Children's Literature Festival. Now, 30 years later, the Children's Literature Festival is still reaching out to area schools and their students. The latest?and we hope greatest?chapter of the Festival unfolds on Tuesday, October 25, from 8:45 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the RiverCenter in Davenport.
Quad City children in grades 3rd through 6th are invited to the Children's Literature Festival to learn from an all-star lineup of authors, illustrators, and storytellers. Included in this year's cast of presenters are: Claire Vanderpool, 2011 Newbery Award-winning author of Moon Over Manifest; Belinda Holbrook, a Davenport author who tells stories with string figures; local poet Ryan Collins; illustrator David Houk; Chris Turnipseed, a Davenport teacher-librarian and member of the Riverbend Storytelling Guild; Pavane Gorrepati and Ramya Prabhu, author and illustrator, respectively, of A Buzzy Bee Tale; Ann Hailey, author of the Fishscale Girl series; Lisa Riebe, author of the Pond Punkies series; Cara Fonteyne and Suzy Sanchez, writer and illustrator, respectively, of Cooper Moves In; and Ann Boaden and Karin Youngberg, Augustana College professors who write novels for young readers under the penname Ann Young. These festival authors, illustrators, and storytellers will meet with assigned groups to discuss their work, share ideas, and answer questions.
Adults would find such a lineup of talent impressive. Children should find it educational and inspirational. Each elementary school in the Mississippi Valley community is invited to share in the excitement! Homeschooled children are also encouraged to participate.
Registration forms are available through the Midwest Writing Center and Davenport Public Library. An "Adult Supervisor" (parent, teacher, librarian, or friend) must accompany every five students. Cost for each person is $5. Students should bring a box lunch.
Books and artwork by our lineup of authors and illustrators will be available for purchase and autographing. Proceeds from these sales will be used for future festivals.
Also included in the day is an interactive voyage on the ill-fated passenger liner Titanic with Captain Rick Sundin.
The David R. Collins Children's Literature Festival is made possible by grants from the Riverboat Development Authority, Scott County Regional Authority, Moline Foundation, and Bi-State Literacy Council. Other partners include the Midwest Writing Center and Davenport Public Library.
For more information about the festival, contact Tom Miller, Children's Literature Festival Board President, at 563-332-8967.
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