Feb. 13, 2012
For Immediate Release

Leigh Anne Florence, author of the “Woody Series” introduces Woody, the Kentucky wiener dog, at last year's Beulah Campbell Children's Literature Conference. (Campbellsville University Photo by Joan C. McKinney)

By Christina L. Kern, office assistant

CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky.— Campbellsville University's School of Education will host the second annual Beulah Campbell Children's Literature Conference, Saturday, March 16 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the campus of Campbellsville University.

The conference, which is sponsored by U.S. Bank, brings children's authors, teachers, librarians and other educators together to share children's literature and ways of using literature in the classroom.

The conference features authors Tim Callahan, author of the “Kentucky Summer Series” set in Morgan County, Ky.; Leigh Anne Florence of Shepherdsville, Ky., author of the popular “Woody Series;” and Heather Henson of Danville, Ky., award-winning author of picture books and novels for teens.

Henson will give the keynote address on “Reading and Writing for Life,” how the stories her mother read to her as a child helped shape who and what she became today: a published writer of books for young readers.

Callahan will speak at the luncheon on “Getting Kids Excited to Read—Is it Possible for Some Kids?” which will detail the importance of kids developing a love of books and reading at an early age including techniques for learning to love reading.

Beulah Campbell, for whom the conference is named, will be honored at the luncheon for her life's work in the field of children's literature and for her generous donation of children's books and original children's illustrations from her vast collection to CU's School of Education.

Florence, Henson and Callahan will participate in an author “meet and greet” from 2 to 3 p.m. where you can chat with the authors one-on-one and get their books personally autographed. This is planned in the Winters Dining Hall lobby.

Other speakers in breakout sessions include: Dr. April Stephens, assistant professor of music education at Campbellsville University; Dr. Patsy Perritt, professor emeritus from Louisiana State University, School of Library and Information; and Dr. Joan Atkinson, associate professor emeritus from the University of Alabama, School of Library and Information Studies.

There will be a student poster session which includes original children's books written by CU's Math and Science Methods class to teach math and science concepts.

Campbell graduated from Campbellsville College in 1936 and was awarded an honorary doctorate from CU in 2005. She began her career at Appalachian State University in 1957 and gained national recognition for conducting children's literature conferences, festivals and workshops. She retired in 1981 and lives in Campbellsville, Ky.

During her career, she began collecting artists' original illustrations created for children's books. Her collection of illustrations is shared between Campbellsville University and Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C.
Campbell's collection includes the entire original illustrations from the children's book “The Knee Baby” written by Mary Jarrell and illustrated by Symen Shimin.

Registration for the Beulah Campbell Children's Literature Conference is $60 or $65 at the door. College student registration is $25; CU student registration is free, with the option of attending the luncheon for $15.

The inaugural conference took place on April 21, 2012, with Campbell in attendance.

Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university with more than 3,600 students offering 63 undergraduate options, 17 master's degrees, five postgraduate areas and eight pre-professional programs. The website for complete information is campbellsville.edu.