The Gift of Story
Stories heal. Stories inspire. Stories clarify. Stories connect. Stories are gifts that bring us together.
This year, Shenandoah’s Children’s Literature Conference is bringing the gift of story to the hearts of educators both online and IN-PERSON. It’s the best of both worlds.
Video Highlights from the 2022 Children’s Literature Conference
In-Person Events | June 23 & 24, 2022
These events will be held on the main campus of Shenandoah University and will feature keynote talks from the acclaimed librarian and author Mr. Schu, and many authors profiled in his new book, “The Gift of Story,” as well as other award-winning authors and illustrators. The in-person events will also include meet-and-greet opportunities, receptions, and other activities.
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Conference Schedule Thursday, June 23, 2022: |
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8 – 8:45 am: Registration, Complimentary Breakfast/Coffee, & Book Sales |
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9 am: Welcome & Reflections – Karen Huff |
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9:15 am: The Gift of Story – Mr. Schu |
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9:45 am: Presentation – Trudy Ludwig |
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10:45 am: Break |
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11 am: Presentation – Lauren Castillo |
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Noon: Boxed Lunches (provided) |
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1 pm: Professional Workshops & Author Round Tables |
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2:10 pm: Presentation – Deborah Freedman |
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3:15 pm: Reception in Honor of Mr. Schu and The Gift of Story |
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4:15 pm: Open Autographing |
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Conference Schedule Friday, June 24, 2022: |
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8:30 – 9 am: Complimentary Breakfast/Coffee & Book Sales |
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9 am: Presentation – Alicia Williams |
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10 am: Break |
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10:15 am: Presentation – Jasmine Warga |
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11:30 am: Lunch & Learn with Greg Pizzoli (pizza buffet provided) |
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12:50 pm: Professional Workshops & Author Round Tables |
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1:50 pm: Presentation – Jonathan Stutzman & Heather Fox |
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3 pm: Presentation – John Schu |
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4 pm: Open Autographing |
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5 pm: Rockin’ the Library (Old Town Winchester) |
2022 Conference Events Details
We’ll be offering a collection of virtual events created with educators like you in mind. Experiences will range from live art demonstrations with award-winning children’s book illustrators, to classroom visits with some of your most favorite authors & illustrators, which you can share live with your students, to in-depth conversations with authors & illustrators where they will share the story behind the story, and so much more . . . .
This year’s conference theme was inspired by the book of the same name: The Gift of Story, by John Schu.
When we share our hearts through story, we inspire others to think more deeply about their own hearts and how stories connect us all. In this book of the heart, teacher, librarian, book lover, and story ambassador, John Schu, known to reading communities all over as Mr. Schu, invites readers to consider literacy beyond its academic benefits, highlighting the ways story speaks to our hearts and brings us together.”
2022 Conference Rates
| Event | Price |
| Author Visit [per classroom, per author – Happy Hour* included] |
$20 |
| Children’s Lit. Virtual Pass [per person virtual events ONLY] |
$179 |
| Children’s Lit. In-Person Pass [per person for June 23rd and 24th in-person events ONLY] |
$179 |
| Author Visit [group rate: 11 or more classrooms at one school, per author – Happy Hour included] |
$199 |
| All Access Pass [includes all 2022 Children’s Literature Conference virtual and June 23rd and June 24th in-person events.] | $250 |
| 3 Graduate Credit Hours [includes access to all of the 2022 Children’s Literature Conference events; includes all virtual and in-person events] |
$710 |
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!
For Credit
Bibliography or papers are due by August 26, 2022. Transcripts will be available by October 28, 2022.
Course Information
If you are taking the Children’s Literature Conference for credit; you will have access to all of the 2022 Children’s Literature Conference events, but will be required to attend a minimum of:
14 live or recorded author visits via Zoom webinars
10 live Happy Hours with authors via Zoom webinars
You will also be required to submit a reflection journal discussing insights gained during virtual conference sessions and an annotated bibliography of children’s books or a documented paper investigating some aspect of topics addressed during the conference.
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 author included.
Happy Hours with the Authors:
After the students have left for the day, join other educators for live conversations with the authors. 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 season pass will provide access to all virtual 2022 sessions. Certificates of participation will be provided to season pass holders for actual hours of participation.
June 23rd and June 24th In-person Events ONLY:
These events will be held on the main campus of Shenandoah University and will feature keynote talks from the acclaimed librarian and author Mr. Schu, but also many authors profiled in his new book, “The Gift of Story,” as well as other award-winning authors and illustrators. The in-person events will also include meet-and-greet opportunities, receptions, and other activities. Purchase does not include virtual events.
All Access Combined In-Person and Virtual Events:
These events will be held on the main campus of Shenandoah University and will feature keynote talks from the acclaimed librarian and author Mr. Schu, but also many authors profiled in his new book, “The Gift of Story,” as well as other award-winning authors and illustrators. The in-person events will also include meet-and-greet opportunities, receptions, and other activities. Purchase includes all virtual events.
Registration Information & Refund Policy
We utilize two online registration systems called Elevate (non-credit) and Instant Enrollment (3 graduate credits). Please follow the appropriate set of directions, below. Questions? Email infoclc@su.edu for assistance:
- Select the link on the right hand side of this page, associated with the item for which you would like to register; this will take you to our online registration system, Elevate
- Enter your First Name, Last Name and Email Address
- Select “New Account” button
- Please retain your Elevate username, password and any security answers for future reference
- You will receive two emails after registering/paying:
- a) confirmation of enrollment to the event
- b) confirmation of payment from ECSI Touchnet
- Select the link on the right hand side of this page, associated with the item for which you would like to register; this will take you to our online registration system, Elevate
- Scroll to the bottom of the page and select the “Sign In” button under the “Welcome Back” section of the screen.
- Enter your Username and Password
- If you do not remember your username that was used to register, see instructions below. If you need to reset a password, select the “Sign In” button under the “Welcome Back” section, then select ‘I forgot my sign in details‘ to reset your password.
- You will receive two emails after registering/paying:
- a) confirmation of enrollment to the event
- b) confirmation of payment from ECSI Touchnet
- DO NOT attempt to create a new account to enroll. Please contact hornetcentral@su.edu to request login information.
Children’s Lit Season Pass: No refunds after 4.28.22
Individual CLC Events: No refunds.
Registration Links
Please follow the registration directions in the section to the left to register using the links below:
3 graduate credits-full conference [April 28-June 24, 2022]
All Access Pass- full conference [April 28-June 25, 2022]
Registration closes at 5pm, EST the evening before each session.
All Author Visits will be recorded. Recordings will be provided to registrants after event.
Peter Reynolds: Tuesday, 5/3/22 [1PM, EST] grades K-4
Shawn Harris: Thursday, 5/5/22 [11AM, EST] grades 6-8
Corinna Luyken: Tuesday, 5/10/22 [1PM, EST] grades K-5
Ben Clanton: Thursday, 5/12/22 [1PM, EST] grades K-5
Varian Johnson: Tuesday, 5/17/22 [1PM, EST] grades K-4
Candace Fleming and Eric Rohmann: Thursday, 5/19/22 [1PM, EST]
Josh Funk: Tuesday, 5/24/22 [1PM, EST] grades K-4
Linda Liukas: Thursday, 5/26/22 [1PM, EST] grades K-3
Linda Sue Park: Tuesday, 5/31/22 [1PM, EST] grades K-4
Lisa Fipps: Thursday, 6/2/22 [1PM, EST] grades K-4
Leslie Connor: Thursday, 6/7/22 [1PM, EST] grades K-3
Lois Lowry (at 1 pm Virtual Author Visit ONLY) and Phillip Hoose (at 4 pm Happy Hour ONLY): Tuesday, 6/9/22 [1PM, EST] grades 6-8
Children’s Lit. Virtual Pass, [per person, virtual events ONLY] Recording of session will be provided to registrants after event.
Children’s Lit. In-Person Pass, [per person, in-person events ONLY]
Children's Literature Conference Faculty
Dr. Karen Huff
Dr. Karen Huff is the coordinator of the elementary education program 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.
Dr. Mary Bowser
Dr. Mary Bowser is the coordinator of the secondary education program at Shenandoah University and teaches courses in undergraduate and graduate education. A former high school English teacher, Dr. Bowser has conducted writing workshops for teachers and administrators throughout the south.
See Highlights from CLC 2018
See Highlights from CLC 2017
See Highlights from CLC 2016
Past Authors & Illustrators
- 2019 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2018 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2017 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2016 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2015 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2014 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2013 Conference Authors & Illustrators
- 2012 Conference Authors & Illustrators
Children’s Literature Conference in the Media
- 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