FSU Presents 35th Annual Spring Festival of Children's Literature

Frostburg State University will present its 35th Annual Spring Festival of Children's Literature on Friday and Saturday, April 28 and 29. An impressive group of award-winning authors and illustrators - Loren Long, Greg Pizzoli, Mara Rockliff and Jordan Sonnenblick - headline the educational and inspiring event presented by the FSU Children's Literature Centre.

Each year, librarians, educators, parents and students come to Frostburg's campus to share their love for children's literature, and to learn more about successful ways to share that love with children. In the "share and learn" atmosphere of the Spring Festival, adults who direct children's learning interact firsthand with authors and illustrators who bring characters to life and inspire children to read.

The agenda for the festival includes featured author presentations and professional development workshops with topics ranging from "Essential Picture Books for Teaching Math" to "Little People Can Research, Too!" Participants mingle with fellow educators and exchange ideas, peruse books and embrace the wisdom and experience that the visiting authors and illustrators have to share.

Long grew up in Lexington, Ky., during the 1970s. He graduated from the American Academy of Art in Chicago and is the No. 1 New York Times-bestselling illustrator of President Barack Obama's picture book, "Of Thee I Sing." He is best known for his beloved New York Times Bestselling children's book series, "Otis."

Pizzoli was featured in The New York Times, Communication Arts and 3x3 Magazine and is a recipient of the 2014 Theodor Seuss Geisel for "The Watermelon Seed." He was honored twice with Portfolio Honor Awards from the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. Pizzoli received his MFA from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where he now teaches. His other books include "Tricky Vic," "Number One Sam," "Good Night Owl" and "Templeton Gets His Wish."

Rockliff is a winner of the Cook Prize and an Orbis Pictus Honor for "Mesmerized: How Ben Franklin Solved a Mystery That Baffled All of France." He studied American history and literature at Brown University and is a former senior editor for Holt, Rinehart & Winston. His newest books include "Around America to Win the Vote" and "Anything but Ordinary Addie: The True Story of Adelaide Herrmann, Queen of Magic."

Sonnenblick was a public school teacher for 14 years before deciding to become a writer. His first young adult noel was "Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie," which was named to the American Library Association's Teens' Top 10 List. Sonnenblick is working on his next young adult novel, "The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade," which he hopes will be released this summer. Other books include "Notes From the Midnight Driver," "Zen and the Art of Faking It," "After Ever After" and "Falling Over Sideways."

The R. Margaret Hamilton Children's Literature Outreach will go on the road again this year, as festival authors and illustrators visit schools and libraries all over Allegany County. On April 28, Rockliff will present to students at CLC's adopted school, Bel Air Elementary, at 10:15 a.m. Pizzoli will speak at the LaVale Library at 10 a.m. Long will lead a 10 a.m. reading and illustrating session at FSU, and Sonnenblick will present at local Allegany County middle schools on April 27 and 28. Open autographing and book sales will be available at each location. Members of the public who wish to attend any of the outreach events should contact Dr. Jodi Welsch at jwelsch@frostburg.edu.

Admission to the festival is by registration only and is limited in number. Pre-registration is required, and pre-orders are available for books that will be featured. Autographing will also be available.

The Festival is administered by the FSU Foundation and sponsored by the Children's Literature Centre and the FSU Department of Educational Professions. For more information, contact the Children's Literature Centre at 301-687-3133 orclc@frostburg.edu. Full details on the conference can be found at www.frostburg.edu/clc, and information is on Facebook atwww.facebook.com/clcfsu or Twitter @CLCFSU.

Situated in the mountains of Allegany County, Frostburg State University is one of the 12 institutions of the University System of Maryland. FSU is a comprehensive, residential regional university and serves as an educational and cultural center for Western Maryland. For more information, visit www.frostburg.edu or facebook.com/frostburgstateuniversity. Follow FSU on Twitter @frostburgstate.

FSU is committed to making all of its programs, services and activities accessible to persons with disabilities. To request accommodations through the ADA Compliance Office, call 301-687-4102 or use a Voice Relay Operator at 1-800-735-2258.