Simmons College

Four discussions during the weekend give participants an opportunity to explore the connections between ideas raised during the institute and professional applications. These discussions will bridge theory and practice. Discussion topics include multicultural children's literature, books in the classroom, reviewing and evaluating children's books, writing for children, and publishing, as well as opportunities to talk about specific titles by institute speakers.

Guest facilitators include:

Maggie Bush, professor, Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science

Nancy Carlsson-Paige, author of Taking Back Childhood: Helping Your Kids Thrive in a Fast-Paced, Media-Saturated, Violence-Filled World (Hudson Street)

Lisa DiSarro, associate marketing director of the Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children's Book Group

Kelly Hager, associate professor of English and Women's and Gender Studies at Simmons College

Melanie Kimball, assistant professor, Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Simmons

Jo Knowles, author of Lessons From a Dead Girl and the forthcoming Jumping Off Swings (Candlewick)

Megan Lambert, instructor of Children's Literature Programs at the Eric Carle Museum
of Picture Book Art

Amy Pattee, assistant professor, Graduate School of Library and Information Science at Simmons College

Vicky Smith, editor of Kirkus Reviews

Randy Testa, vice-president of Education and Professional Development, Walden Media