The Youth Literature Festival is an annual celebration of literature awareness in all class levels from preschool to adulthood. This year, from October 20-22, the University of Illinois will host various award-winning authors and illustrators from all over the country to participate in this event.

Mary Kalantzis, former Dean of the College of Education, started the Youth Literature Festival in 2008. Each year, a core committee of individuals from the College of Education and the University Library, comes together to decide on authors and illustrators to bring to the celebration.

Linda Tammen, Youth Literature Festival Program Coordinator, said the committee takes several aspects into consideration when selecting authors and illustrators.

“You look at the awards and what’s big and popular with kids right now, there’s a lot of factors. We focus on diversity, this year we have a muslim author giving a presentation on what she wished friends, teachers knew about Islam,” Tammen said. “We try to get a mix of what appeals to kids.”

Tammen said there will be about 125 author presentations at the event. These local and national authors and illustrators will visit up to 90 schools in the Champaign community to speak to children about their work.  

From Thursday, Oct. 20 to Friday, Oct. 22, these authors and illustrators will be at schools engaging with children at all age levels with their literature, either by leading workshops or sharing their books. Renowned authors such as David Schwartz, author of more than 50 children’s math and science books, and Duncan Tonatiuh, an author-illustrator who received the Siebert Medal along with a few other awards.

About 20,000 children will participate in this event and get the opportunity to be inspired by these authors and artists. Tammen stresses the importance of children meeting with authors.

“I saw the impact it had on the children in my own classroom, it changed their attitude about reading and literature,” Tammen said.

In the article, one of the sponsors, James D. Anderson, who also serves as the interim dean of the College of Education, shared how this event is essential.

“These author-visits to area schools are more crucial than ever,” Anderson said. “Given the large number of Illinois schoolchildren who come from low-income families and might not have opportunities otherwise to meet and be inspired by award-winning writers and artists.”

On the last day of the event, Saturday, a Community Day Celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the I Hotel and Conference Center. Activities at the event include live music, dance, puppet shows, readings, art displays, author panels and performances such as the “Peter and the Wolf” by the Central Illinois Puppetry Guild and the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra.

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