Bonding Through Books:
Creating A Community of Readers
First Virtual Event | April 19
In-Person Conference | June 26-28
REGISTER NOW
Join us for the 38th Annual Children’s Literature Conference Bonding Through Books: Creating A Community of Readers. We will celebrate the power of books to create a classroom culture that nurtures a love of reading, creates a sense of belonging, and makes books come alive through student-to-student and teacher-to-student conversations that deepen thinking, inspire the imagination, and create excited, engaged, and motivated readers who can and do read.
You and your students will have the opportunity to meet some of the best and brightest children’s authors and illustrators in the field. In April, we will bring the joy of literature to your classroom. We’ll be offering a collection of affordable virtual events created with your students in mind. Experiences will range from classroom author visits to art demonstrations and writing workshops with award-winning authors and illustrators. After your students have left for the day, you will have the opportunity to attend after-school Happy Hours and discussions with the authors and illustrators and enjoy in-depth conversations about the stories behind the stories.
When school is out, we will come together on the main campus of Shenandoah University for our in-person conference on June 26-28. During these three days you will meet authors and illustrators who have won the Caldecott Medal, Caldecott Honor, Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Author Award, Pura Belpre Awards, Sibert Honor Awards, as well as being on the #1 New York Times list of Best-Sellers. The in-person events will also include: meet and greet opportunities, receptions and plenty of story-filled fun that will do your heart good.
So, gather your colleagues and students and join us from April through June as we create a robust community of readers. Immerse yourself and your students in some of the best books, meet your favorite authors, connect with fellow educators, and enjoy all the gifts reading offers. We can’t wait to get started!
Header illustration: Sophie Blackall, “Negative Cat” (2021) Used with permission
Conference & Credit Registration
Attend the Children’s Literature Conference events and class to learn from world-renowned, award-winning authors and illustrators, and literacy leaders, and earn 3 hours of graduate credit!
Course Information
To earn 3 graduate credits, registrants must participate in both the virtual and in-person sessions.
You will have access to all of the 2024 Children’s Literature Conference virtual events, and will be required to attend the in-person sessions (June 26-28, 2024). Course requirements:
- Attend a minimum of 10 author visits & keynote talks (all virtual author visits and keynote sessions will be recorded; you can choose to attend live via Zoom webinar, or watch the recorded session within 2 weeks of the event)
- Attend a minimum of 5 live virtual Happy Hours with authors via Zoom webinars (Happy Hours are not recorded. Door prizes are awarded during each Happy Hour. You must be present during the live Happy Hour webinar to win.)
- Attend all 3 in-person dates from June 26-28, 2024 on Shenandoah University’s main campus in Winchester, VA
You will also be required to submit a reflection journal discussing insights gained during virtual and in-person conference sessions and an annotated bibliography of children’s books or a documented paper investigating some aspect of topics addressed during the conference.
Reflection journal and bibliography or paper are due by August 30, 2024. Transcripts will be available by October 25, 2024.
Attend Without Earning Credit
Affordable Author Visits:
An all-star lineup of authors and illustrators will be available for live webinars. Your students can meet the authors of the books they love when you register for an Author Visit. Group rates are available for 11+ teachers at one school. Corresponding Happy Hour with the speaker included with the purchase of all Author Visits.
Happy Hours with the Authors:
After the students have left for the day, join other educators for a live virtual conversation with the speaker. Learn the story behind the stories. Q & A time and door prizes will add to the joy!
Children’s Literature Virtual Pass:
Purchase of a Virtual Pass will provide access to all virtual 2024 sessions. Certificates of participation will be provided to Virtual Pass holders for actual hours of participation.
June 26 through 28 In-person Events ONLY:
Our in-person conference will be held June 26-28, and the in-person conference will highlight 10 award-winning authors and illustrators. The in-person events will include keynote addresses, author round-tables, small group breakout sessions, meet and greet opportunities, receptions, and plenty of story-filled fun, which will do your heart good.
All Access Combined In-Person and Virtual Events:
All Access Pass purchase includes all in-person and virtual events.
CLC Conference rates
| Event | Price |
| Virtual Author Visit (per classroom, per author) |
$20 |
|
In-Person Pass |
$210 |
|
Virtual Pass |
$185 |
| Author Visit group rate: (group rate, virtual, 11 or more classrooms at 1 school) |
$199 |
|
All Access Pass |
$285 |
| 3 Graduate Credit Hours |
$750 |
REGISTRATION
Register Now!
Choose your appropriate registration from the options below.
Registration closes at 5pm, EST the evening before each session.
All Author Visits will be recorded. Recordings will be provided to registrants after event.
Recording of session will be provided to registrants after event.
General Information
A limited number of single rooms with board are available on campus for $85 per night
- Check-in: 6/25, check-out 6/28/24.
- Rate includes Tuesday dinner through Friday lunch in the Allen Dining Hall.
- All rooms include private bath & air conditioning
For more information, please email infoclc@jdzruiran.com
All Access Pass: No refunds after 4.18.24
Virtual Pass: No refunds after 4.18.24
In-Person Pass: No refunds after 6.25.24
Individual CLC Events: No refunds.
Children's Literature Conference Faculty
Dr. Karen Huff
Dr. Karen Huff is the coordinator of the elementary education program at Shenandoah University. In addition to teaching at the university level, she has taught elementary and nursery children and has also conducted numerous workshops for parent groups and in-service training.
Ms. Danielle Henzler
Danielle Henzler is the director of the Maureen Sullivan Curriculum Center at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, a preK-12 resource room for anyone in the campus community working with children. She has been teaching graduate and undergraduate children’s literature courses at the university for the past 18 years and has presented at numerous literacy conferences.
Past Authors & Illustrators
- 2023 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2022 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2019 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2018 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2017 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2016 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2015 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2014 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2013 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2012 Conference Authors & Illustrators
Children’s Literature Conference in the Media
- Shenandoah’s Children’s Literature Conference Serves Thousands
- Shenandoah’s MLK Week Children’s Literature Events Connect With Thousands Of Students
- For The Love Of An Author: Children’s Literature Conference Draws Top Authors, Illustrators And Hundreds Of Attendees
- Writer Kwame Alexander brings ‘literary concert’ to Children’ Literature conference
- Children’s Literature Conference hopes to get kids hooked on reading
- Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference invites acclaimed children’s authors to share their stories