Children’s Literature Conference 2026
At Shenandoah University
Join us for the 40th Annual Children’s Literature Conference 2026
In-Person | June 24-26
Virtual Dates | April 27-June 9
So, gather your colleagues and students and join us from April through June as we create a robust community of readers. Immerse yourself and your students in some of the best books, meet your favorite authors, connect with fellow educators, and enjoy all the gifts reading offers. We can’t wait to get started!
You and your students will have the opportunity to meet some of the best and brightest children’s authors and illustrators in the field. In April, we will bring the joy of literature to your classroom. We’ll be offering a collection of affordable virtual events created with your students in mind. Experiences will range from classroom author visits to art demonstrations and writing workshops with award-winning authors and illustrators. After your students have left for the day, you will have the opportunity to attend after-school Happy Hours and discussions with the authors and illustrators and enjoy in-depth conversations about the stories behind the stories.
Conference List Of Guest Speakers
Many More 2026 Speakers Will Be Added Soon.
*Virtual Presenter
Conference & Credit Registration
Attend the Children’s Literature Conference events and class to learn from world-renowned, award-winning authors and illustrators, and literacy leaders, and earn 3 hours of graduate credit!
Course Information
To earn 3 graduate credits, registrants must participate in both the virtual and in-person sessions.
You will have access to all of the 2026 Children’s Literature Conference virtual events, and will be required to attend the in-person sessions (June 24-26, 2026). Course requirements:
- Attend a minimum of 8 author visits & keynote talks (all virtual author visits and keynote sessions will be recorded; you can choose to attend live via Zoom webinar, or watch the recorded session within 2 weeks of the event)
- Attend a minimum of 5 live virtual Happy Hours with authors via Zoom webinars (Happy Hours are not recorded. Door prizes are awarded during each Happy Hour. You must be present during the live Happy Hour webinar to win.)
- Attend all 3 in-person dates from June 24-26, 2026 on Shenandoah University’s main campus in Winchester, VA
You will also be required to submit a reflection journal discussing insights gained during virtual and in-person conference sessions and an annotated bibliography of children’s books or a documented paper investigating some aspect of topics addressed during the conference.
Reflection journal due date: August 28, 2026
Transcripts due date: September 25, 2026
Attend Without Earning Credit
Affordable Author Visits:
An all-star lineup of authors and illustrators will be available for live webinars. Your students can meet the authors of the books they love when you register for an Author Visit. Group rates are available for 11+ teachers at one school. Corresponding Happy Hour with the speaker included with the purchase of all Author Visits.
Happy Hours with the Authors:
After the students have left for the day, join other educators for a live virtual conversation with the speaker. Learn the story behind the stories. Q & A time and door prizes will add to the joy!
Children’s Literature Virtual Pass:
Purchase of a Virtual Pass will provide access to all virtual 2026 sessions. Certificates of participation will be provided to Virtual Pass holders for actual hours of participation.
June 24-26, 2026 In-person Events ONLY:
Our in-person conference will be held June 24-26, and the in-person conference will highlight award-winning authors and illustrators. The in-person events will include keynote addresses, author round-tables, small group breakout sessions, meet and greet opportunities, receptions, and plenty of story-filled fun, which will do your heart good.
All Access Combined In-Person and Virtual Events:
All Access Pass purchase includes all in-person and virtual events.
Conference Rates
| EVENT | PRICE |
| Virtual Author Visit (per classroom, per author) | $25 |
In-Person Pass | $240 |
Virtual Pass | $190 |
| Author Visit group rate: (group rate, virtual, 11 or more classrooms at 1 school) | $199 |
All Access Pass | $295 |
All Access Pass in-person only | $225 |
| 3 Graduate Credit Hours | $790 |
Registration
Registration coming soon
General Information
A limited number of single rooms with board are available on campus.
Pricing will be announced soon.
- Check-in: 6/23, check-out 6/26/26.
- Rate includes Tuesday dinner through Friday lunch in the Allen Dining Hall.
- All rooms include private bath & air conditioning
For more information, please email infoclc@su.edu
3 Graduate Credit CLC Course: No refunds after 4.26.26
All Access Pass: No refunds after 4.26.26
Virtual Pass: No refunds after 4.26.26
In-Person Pass: No refunds after 6.22.26
Individual CLC Events: No refunds
Children’s Literature Conference Faculty
Dr. Karen Huff
Dr. Karen Huff is the coordinator of the B.Ed Elementary Education and the MS in Literacy Education programs at Shenandoah University. In addition to teaching at the university level, she has taught elementary and nursery children and has also conducted numerous workshops for parent groups and in-service training.
Ms. Danielle Henzler
Danielle Henzler is the director of the Maureen Sullivan Curriculum Center at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, a preK-12 resource room for anyone in the campus community working with children. She has been teaching graduate and undergraduate children’s literature courses at the university for the past 19 years and has presented at numerous literacy conferences.
Children’s Literature Conference in the Media
Shenandoah University Makes Reading Fun
With the help of the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation, Shenandoah makes an impact by focusing on the joy of reading through special programs like Camp Read A Lot, the Children’s Literature Conference and more
Shenandoah Receives Largest-Ever Claude Moore Grant
Funds Will Support Literacy-Promoting Efforts
Shenandoah Brings The Best Creators of Children’s Literature To Classrooms Nationwide
Virtual visits kick off 38th Children’s Literature Conference, which will conclude with a three-day in-person event for educators in June, featuring even more award-winning authors and illustrators
More News Coverage
- Shenandoah’s Children’s Literature Conference Serves Thousands
- Shenandoah’s MLK Week Children’s Literature Events Connect With Thousands Of Students
- For The Love Of An Author: Children’s Literature Conference Draws Top Authors, Illustrators And Hundreds Of Attendees
- Writer Kwame Alexander brings ‘literary concert’ to Children’ Literature conference
- Children’s Literature Conference hopes to get kids hooked on reading
- Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference invites acclaimed children’s authors to share their stories
A 40-Year Love Story:
Books, Students & the Magic In-Betweenm
Virtual Dates | April 27-June 9
In-Person Conference | June 24-26
For more information, email us at infoclc@su.edu
We wish to acknowledge support for this conference from the Claude Moore Center for Literacy at Shenandoah University and the Claude Moore Charitable Foundation.