History of The National Latino Children's Literature Conference
The National Latino Children’s Literature Conference is a dynamic, magical conference celebrating Latino children’s and young adult literature and literacy. Initiated in 2008 by Drs. Jamie Campbell Naidoo and Julia López-Roberston as the University of South Carolina’s Annual Celebration of Latino Children’s Literature, the conference invites librarians, teachers, educators, child-care workers, and others interested in Latino literacy, literature, and education to come together to share successful strategies for meeting the informational, cultural, recreational, and traditional literacy needs of Latino children and young adults.
In Fall 2010, with Dr. Jamie Naidoo as the director, the conference made a permanent move to The University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies and changed its name to The National Latino Children’s Literature Conference, broadened to a more national scope, and began a more concerted effort to focus on the role of the library as the cultural institution to meet all the literacy needs of today’s Latino children, young adults, and families. Dr. López-Roberston continues hosting a smaller, regional conference in South Carolina focused on teacher and literacy education.
Biennially multiple award-winning Latino and Latina authors and illustrators visit the National Latino Children's Literature Conference (NLCLC) and present programs at a local community event for Latino families in celebration of Día (El día de los niños/El día de los libros). Children attending the event receive free high-quality books representing the Latino cultures and have an opportunity to visit with the Latino/a artists. The NLCLC is situated within one of the states in the New Latino South with the fastest-growing Latino populations. Local educators, librarians, and teachers, just beginning to work with Latino children, young adults, and their families, have an opportunity to collaborate with professionals from across the U.S. who have been serving the literacy needs of Latino children and young adults for many years. In addition, participants learn about the latest and best in Latino children’s and young adult literature along with ideas on how to incorporate the books into their classrooms and library programs.
In Fall 2010, with Dr. Jamie Naidoo as the director, the conference made a permanent move to The University of Alabama School of Library and Information Studies and changed its name to The National Latino Children’s Literature Conference, broadened to a more national scope, and began a more concerted effort to focus on the role of the library as the cultural institution to meet all the literacy needs of today’s Latino children, young adults, and families. Dr. López-Roberston continues hosting a smaller, regional conference in South Carolina focused on teacher and literacy education.
Biennially multiple award-winning Latino and Latina authors and illustrators visit the National Latino Children's Literature Conference (NLCLC) and present programs at a local community event for Latino families in celebration of Día (El día de los niños/El día de los libros). Children attending the event receive free high-quality books representing the Latino cultures and have an opportunity to visit with the Latino/a artists. The NLCLC is situated within one of the states in the New Latino South with the fastest-growing Latino populations. Local educators, librarians, and teachers, just beginning to work with Latino children, young adults, and their families, have an opportunity to collaborate with professionals from across the U.S. who have been serving the literacy needs of Latino children and young adults for many years. In addition, participants learn about the latest and best in Latino children’s and young adult literature along with ideas on how to incorporate the books into their classrooms and library programs.
Past Latino Authors & Illustrators:
A wide variety of outstanding Latino authors and illustrators have participated in the National Latino Children's Literature Conference. These include Alma Flor Ada, Monica Brown, Isabel Campoy, Joe Cepeda, Jennifer Cervantes, Rene Colato Lainez, Lulu Delacre, Lucia Gonzalez, Christina Gonzalez, Maya Christina Gonzalez, Rafael Lopez, Guadalupe Garcia McCall, Meg Medina, Yuyi Morales, John Parra, Irania Patterson, and Lila Quintero Weaver. Which one is your favorite?
