To celebrate one of the University’s less-publicized treasures, Andersen Library is hosting a conference series highlighting its children’s literature collections.
The 23rd annual Children’s Literature Summer Forums began June 15 and will run until Aug. 3. It is part of the library’s ongoing effort to expand its collections of prize-winning authors and books.
Peter Stone, president of the Misty and Chincoteague Foundation, talked about children’s author Marguerite Henry at Thursday’s conference, detailing her talent for story-telling and her fascination for horses.
The California-based prolific writer died in 1997 at the age of 95. She left behind more than 60 children’s books, including “The Chincoteague Trilogy,” a book of everlasting appeal to four generations of children all over the world. All of Henry’s manuscripts were donated to the University’s Children’s Literature Research Collections after her death.
Curator Karen Hoyle said the forums are organized to present different aspects of children’s books to the University community.
“Everybody has been a child and has read children’s books,” she said.
Other speakers this summer include Lionel Johnson, a collector of illustrated editions of Robert Louis Stevenson’s “Treasure Island,” authors Ashley Bryan, Tolowa Mollel and Kristine Franklin and illustrator David Christiana.
Andersen boasts one of the world’s premier children’s literature research collections with more than 100,000 books.