This spring I attended, for the first time, the Fay B. Kaigler Children’s
Book Festival held on the campus of The University of Southern Mississippi
in Hattiesburg.
I have attended many conferences over the past 25 years but this was hands down
the most informative, inspiring, and fun! It was four days of being immersed in
all things related to children’s literature. There were eight featured speakers (watch for more information about them in future posts) plus many others on a wide array of topics. (You have no idea how much there is to know about Alice in Wonderland.) Four awards were presented at the conference including the revered Ezra Jack Keats Book Award to a new writer and new illustrator.
The highlight of the conference
was a keynote address by none other than Christopher Paul Curtis who received
the USM Medallion for his contributions to children’s literature. Christopher
gave a entertaining talk. He shared with the audience his own
experiences growing up and how he incorporated them into his award-books such
as The
Watson’s Go to Birmingham-1963 and Bud, Not Buddy.
I first spotted C.P.C. sitting in
the audience as he was listening to another presenter. He was sitting right in
front of me and I used great restraint by not taking a selfie of me with the
back of his head! Fortunately, the following day I spotted Curtis sitting alone
while taking a break from giving speeches and signing books and talking to
fans. I seized the opportunity to have my 20-year-old copy of Watson’s signed and have my picture
taken with him.
More books by Christopher Paul Curtis!
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