Event Title
Ezra Jack Keats Lecture
Location
Cochran Center Ballrooms
Start Date
12-4-2012 3:30 PM
End Date
12-4-2012 4:30 PM
Description
Ezra Jack Keats (1916-83) is internationally recognized as one of the most influential creators of picture books in the 20th century. He was author and illustrator of more than 20 books and provided the illustrations for an additional 63 titles in a distinguished career that spanned four decades. The Caldecott-winning The Snowy Day (Viking, 1962) was revolutionary by sympathetically dealing with the experiences of an African-American child. A multi-racial and urban world was beautifully reflected in many of his other books. Although comfortable and adept with many mediums, Keats is justly remembered as a true master of collage. His technique of using such favorite characters as Peter, Louie and Willie in a series of stories is just one reason why the stories of Ezra Jack Keats continue to be loved by children of all ages.
The University of Southern Mississippi is very proud that Ezra Jack Keats was the 12th recipient of the Southern Miss Medallion for outstanding contributions to children’s literature. In 1985, the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation established the Ezra Jack Keats Lectureship at the annual Children’s Book Festival.
Ezra Jack Keats Lecture
Cochran Center Ballrooms
Ezra Jack Keats (1916-83) is internationally recognized as one of the most influential creators of picture books in the 20th century. He was author and illustrator of more than 20 books and provided the illustrations for an additional 63 titles in a distinguished career that spanned four decades. The Caldecott-winning The Snowy Day (Viking, 1962) was revolutionary by sympathetically dealing with the experiences of an African-American child. A multi-racial and urban world was beautifully reflected in many of his other books. Although comfortable and adept with many mediums, Keats is justly remembered as a true master of collage. His technique of using such favorite characters as Peter, Louie and Willie in a series of stories is just one reason why the stories of Ezra Jack Keats continue to be loved by children of all ages.
The University of Southern Mississippi is very proud that Ezra Jack Keats was the 12th recipient of the Southern Miss Medallion for outstanding contributions to children’s literature. In 1985, the Ezra Jack Keats Foundation established the Ezra Jack Keats Lectureship at the annual Children’s Book Festival.
Comments
Anita Silvey believes that “only the very best of anything can be good enough for the young,” and she has devoted her career to promoting children’s books. She has served as the editor of The Horn Book and served on the International Board on Books for Young People. From 1995-2001, she oversaw the children’s and young adult publishing for Houghton Mifflin, working with well-known authors such as Chris Van Allsburg and Linda Sue Park. Silvey has been given numerous awards for her efforts in children’s literature, including an honorary Master of Fine Arts in children’s book writing from Vermont College and the Luddington Award of the Educational Paperback Association (2008). She is currently a member of the editorial board of Cricket Magazine and teaches classes at Simmons College Graduate School of Library Science and St. Michael’s College. She also publishes the Children’s Book a Day Almanac, which can be found online at http://childrensbookalmanac.com. Publisher’s Weekly has said, “It would be hard to find a more authoritative voice than Anita Silvey.”