Authors of Children's Literature

Want to feel really old? Ask a kid about her favorite movie, TV show, or toy. Chances are, they're not the same ones you enjoyed as a kid. You'll probably get a quizzical look if you wax nostalgic about Captain Kangaroo, Speed Racer, or Rainbow Bright. If you're really out of the loop, you'll probably give one back as they describe Bratz Dolls, Hannah Montana, and Yu-Gi-Oh. Thankfully, you should have at least one thing in common: You probably have read some of the same books. I dare anyone to escape adolescence without reading The Chronicles of Narnia, The Giving Tree, or A Wrinkle in Time (or at least one of those three). Those looking to spark some literary interest can bring the young ones to Hamline University's children's literature series, which will feature a dozen authors reading from their most beloved works. Authors scheduled to read include Emily Jenkins, who reviews picture books for the New York Times Book Review when she's not writing them herself (how fun a job must that be?); Eleanora Tate, whose Just an Overnight Guest was adapted into a movie that aired on PBS; and Mary Casanova, whose novel for middle-schoolers, The Klipfish Code, tells the tale of a 12-year-old girl living in Norway under Nazi occupation. The event culminates in a reading at Sundin Hall by Lois Lowry, best known for her Anastasia and Sam Krupnik series, and whose Newbury Award-winning Number the Stars explores two girls lives in World War II-era Copenhagen. For a complete schedule of readings and locations visit www.hamline.edu/index.html.
Sat., Jan. 19, 7 p.m., 2008