National Latino Children's Literature Conference, March in Alabama

National Latino Children’s Literature Conference

Alma Flor Ada

Conference Description

On March 29th and 30th, 2012 celebrate the rich traditions and diversity within the Latino cultures at the National Latino Children’s Literature Conference. Discover how to meet the informational and literacy needs of Latino children via high quality, culturally relevant literature and the latest educational strategies.

Engage in unique networking opportunities with librarians, teachers, educators, and researchers from across the nation as we explore how to make intercultural connections and serve this rapidly growing, uniquely diverse population.

As the number of Latino children and their families continues to increase, so does the need for understanding these diverse cultures. This exclusive conference provides a forum for sharing current research and practice addressing the cultural, educational, and informational needs of Latino children and their families. At the same time, the conference also examines the many social influences that Latino children’s and young adult literature have upon the developing child and adolescent.

Beginning Thursday March 29th at 9 a.m. on the historical University of Alabama campus, nationally-recognized, award-winning Latina author and professor Dr. Monica Brown will launch the recurring conference theme “Connecting Cultures and Celebrating Cuentos” with a powerful keynote address.

Participants will then have the opportunity to attend breakout sessions related to Latino children’s and young adult literature, library services to Latinos, and literacy education for Spanish-speaking and Latino children. Following these small group sessions, award-winning Latino author René Colato Laínez and award-winning Latino artist Joe Cepeda will discuss the collaborative synergy behind their work. Latina author Meg Medina will then present a rousing keynote about the milagros found in her books.

Thursday evening, all the Latino children's book creators will celebrate El día de los niños/El día de los libros (Children's Day/Book Day), Latino children’s literature, and cultural literacy with a free community event at the Tuscaloosa Public Library. This Noche de Cuentos (Evening of Stories) begins at 6:30 p.m. and includes storytelling and story readings, refreshments, and free books for the niños.

On Friday March 30th, award-winning, internationally renown authors Dr. Alma Flor Ada and F. Isabel Campoy will energize participants and open the day’s events with a keynote address about transformative multicultural education. Breakout sessions for both practitioners and researchers as well as graduate and undergraduate students will follow and include a variety of topics related to Latino children’s literature and literacy. Research posters will also be on display throughout the conference.

A buffet lunch will be served in the beautiful Gorgas Library and followed by an engaging collaborative keynote by award-winning Latino artist Joe Cepeda and Latina author Monica Brown. Afterwards breakout sessions will include topics related to education, literacy, storytelling, and library services for Latino children. The day will end with small group sessions with all the authors and illustrators.

By attending the National Latino Children's Literature Conference, participants have the chance to meet award-winning Latino authors and illustrators, attend exciting break-out sessions, engage in exclusive networking opportunities, and celebrate cultural literacy in a Día community event. Come deepen your understanding of the Latino cultures and celebrate their rich diversity within our classrooms and libraries.

For more info, go here.
posted by Contributing Bloguistas