If you have elementary or middle school students, you’re probably aware that a handful of authors and illustrators are coming to the area soon.
The second annual Great Plains Literacy Festival will be Wednesday and Thursday, April 22 and 23, in Seward. This year’s line-up includes three picture book authors and illustrators (Oge Mora, Melissa Iwai and David Ezra Stein) and two authors (Deborah Hopkinson and Lindsey Stoddard) who write for middle school students.
“They represent a diverse range of authors and illustrators,” GPLF committee member Dylan Teut said.
The group has won a variety of awards including Caldecott Honors and many of their books have been nominated for the Golden Sower Award.
Teut said the committee used the Nebraska reading list, lists of bestsellers and feedback from schools to narrow down its list of potential presenters.
“It’s easy to convince them to come,” he said. “It was a successful event last year, and they saw how well it went and the impact it can have.”
“It’s huge the reputation Seward has in the children’s book community,” committee member Jennifer Flemings said.
The reputation stems from the Plum Creek Children’s Literacy Festival, conducted for over 20 years by Concordia University.
Flemings said authors and illustrators talk about festivals like this, so the word spreads.
“It’s a testament to our community and schools,” John Owens, another committee member, said.
Buzz is already growing about this year’s event. Committee member Rachel Teut said about 170 books had been sold through Chapters Books and Gifts ahead of time, with more to be available at the event.
Students at Seward Elementary are preparing, as well, learning about the authors and illustrators who are coming and preparing work in their styles for them to see.
“Each grade has an author and an art style,” Flemings said, adding that SES art teacher Sarah Brumm has been working on that.
Each illustrator and author brings a unique story and presentation to the festival. For example, Dylan Teut said, Stein uses marionettes in his presentation.
“It will be fun to see. The kids are already excited about that,” Flemings said.
Stein also has a six-book series called Interrupting Chicken that has been adapted for Apple TV+. Interrupting Chicken was first published when this year’s middle schoolers were in preschool, Teut said.
Mora wrote her first picture book when she was a senior in college, Flemings said.
“This is huge. She is one of those who will become famous and not do author visits,” Flemings said, describing her work as “Eric Carle-level art.”
Iwai’s books focus on her cultural heritage and are books of wonder, Flemings said. The GPLF was able to purchase a display package from one of Iwai’s books and passed that on to Chapters for possible use in the store, she said.
For middle school students, Stoddard creates contemporary real fiction with characters young readers can relate to, Flemings said.
Hopkinson writes nonfiction, much of it about World War II.
“We wanted to boost the excitement about more nonfiction,” Flemings said. “She has a way with the pen.”
The authors and illustrators will visit with students from 21 different schools during their time in Nebraska. Schools to visit include Seward Elementary, Seward Middle, Centennial, Milford, Waverly, Eagle, Lincoln, Crete Elementary, Crete Intermediate, Crete Middle, Dorchester, Ashland-Greenwood and Freeman. Joining groups at those locations are students from St. John Lutheran and St. Vincent de Paul Catholic in Seward, St. Paul Lutheran in Utica and Loomis.
“We’re really excited to get more kids to see them,” Flemings said.
All the visits are free to the students, thanks to generous donations and volunteers, Owens said.
“People are surprised we have no budget,” committee member Emily Nix said. “Everything donated goes to bring this experience to the kids.”
Dylan Teut said donors are eager to contribute to the festival.
As with last year’s festival, the visitors will be able to tour Seward on day two. Family activities are planned at the Seward Memorial Library, with free root beer floats at Bottle Rock. Chapters will host a meet and greet with the group, as well.
Fran Ehlers is creating books for kids to use for drawing or writing that will be available. The library will host bingo and memory, Flemings said.
“I loved being in the bookstore last year,” Dylan Teut said. “It’s very inspirational to listen to the conversation between the children and the presenters and what is shared.”
Nix said she got a note from a teacher last year who said that Dusty Bohling, one of last year’s presenters, connected with one of her students.
“The student said she had a life like mine, though. It made her realized she was not alone,” Nix said. “I got to tell Dusty that, and she was moved to tears.”
Flemings said one of the primary goals of the GPLF is to inspire a lifelong love of reading and artwork.
“To see the connections outside of school,” she said.
“We’re sowing seeds,” Dylan Teut said.
Rachel Teut said it’s fun to see all the pieces come together after months of work.
Owens said he enjoys seeing the impact from the inside, knowing the rewards and validation.
“We feel it is good work,” he said.
Julie Owens, another committee member, said she likes to see the diversity of the presenters, showing the students a peek of the world outside of small-town Nebraska.
“That is the why,” she said.
She also likes hearing the presenters talk about their creative processes and how they got to this point in their careers.
Flemings said she is always inspired by the guests.
“To hear what inspires them gives you how you could do it. You’re never too old to do it,” she said.
The community event Thursday, April 23, from 4-6 p.m. is not just for students and their parents, Flemings said. It’s a chance for everyone to meet the visitors.
“It feeds our inner children, too,” Flemings said.
With the differences in styles and topics among this year’s presenters, Flemings said everyone will find something they like.
