Eastern Illinois University’s Booth Library is inviting the campus and community to take part in the 2026 Children’s Literature Symposium, featuring two free public presentations in late February.
Eastern Illinois University’s Mary J. Booth Library will host two nationally recognized voices in children’s literature, offering discussions on creativity, representation, and the impact of books on young readers.
The symposium begins Wednesday, February 25, with a presentation by EIU alumna Dr. Jan Spivey Gilchrist. Her talk, titled “Making Books for ALL Children: A Celebration of My Life’s Work,” will share insights from her career as an award-winning illustrator of more than 100 books and author of five children’s titles. The event begins at 5 p.m., with a reception to follow at 5:30.
A documentary screening titled “Colors of Love: The Jan Spivey Gilchrist Story” will also be shown Monday, February 23 at 5 p.m. at Booth Library’s Center for Student Innovation.
The symposium continues Thursday, February 26, with a presentation by Dr. Suzan Alteri, Assistant Director of the Center for Children’s Books at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her talk, “Racism and Representation in Children’s Literature,” examines how children’s books influence ideas of identity, belonging, and difference. That event also begins at 5 p.m., followed by a reception.
Each presentation includes a question-and-answer session, and parking is free and open to the public after 5 p.m. On Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m., Booth Library will also host Children’s Literature Research Lightning Rounds, highlighting faculty research in the field.
The two-day symposium celebrates the importance and history of children’s literature and reflects strong partnerships between EIU, local schools, and the surrounding community. All events are free and open to the public.
