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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (September 18, 2008)

Youth Literature Fest coming to U. of I., area schools, community Oct. 2-4 -
University of Illinois News Bureau press release

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Books, kids, and the love of reading will take center stage Oct. 2-4 in Champaign-Urbana, at the University of Illinois, and in 44 area schools – all as part of a first-ever Youth Literature Festival in East Central Illinois.

The festival, organized by the U. of I. College of Education, will begin with two days of school visits by 21 published authors and illustrators, most with national followings, such as Ashley Bryan, Chris Crutcher, Janice Harrington, Francisco Jimenez, M.E. Kerr and Robert Lipsyte.

The third day, a Saturday, will offer a full slate of free activities for all ages that celebrate books and the arts, held inside and outside at the U. of I. and at other Champaign-Urbana locations.

Those attending will be able to have books signed and listen to readings by festival guests, and enjoy storytelling, puppetry, films, a ventriloquist, exhibits, a poetry café for teenagers, and musical performances.

Read the entire article on the U of I News Bureau web site...



Contact information:
Cindy Reiter
(217) 244-3328
youthlitfest@ed.uiuc.edu
http://youthlitfest.education.illinois.edu

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: (April 21, 2008)

Community Leaders Read in Schools to Announce New Youth Literature Festival

CHAMPAIGN, IL: Community leaders will visit three Champaign-Urbana schools Friday morning, April 25 to read to students. The purpose of the visit is to announce the UIUC College of Education’s inaugural Youth Literature Festival, which is planned for October 2-4. Visiting readers will be reading from the works of the author who is slated to visit that school during the October festival.

Mrs. Carol Scharlau will visit Countryside School in Champaign at 8:45 a.m. to read from the works of Jennifer Holm.  Mrs. Susan Herman (wife of UIUC Chancellor Richard Herman) will visit Champaign’s Carrie Busey Elementary School at 9:00 a.m. to read from the books of Ashley Bryan. Mrs. Mary White (wife of University of Illinois President B. Joseph White) will visit Urbana’s Thomas Paine Elementary School at 10:00 a.m. to read from the works of Robert San Souci.

The Youth Literature Festival will take place October 2-4, 2008 encompassing the greater Champaign-Urbana area. The first two days (Thursday, October 2 and Friday, October 3) will be comprised of author visits to schools in east Central Illinois (Urbana, Champaign, Rantoul, Paxton-Buckley-Loda, among others), culminating in a day of celebration and activities for the community at large on Saturday, October 4. The events on Saturday, October 4 will feature entertainment for children and adults of all ages, from storytelling, puppetry, readings, lectures, book signings, and discussions featuring the Festival authors and illustrators, to a poetry cafe for middle and high school students, from museum and library exhibits at Krannert Art Museum and Orpheum Children's Museum, to student musical performances. These events are designed to bring together families from throughout the area, those involved with the public sector, and a variety of community groups for one main goal: putting literature at the heart of our lives.