Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival
fay b kaigler childrens book festival annual book festival founded sponsored university southern mississippi dr warren tracy chairman library science department university librarian university southern mississippi saw vision children’s literature conference come life university leadership dr william mccain library science department hosted conference writing illustrating publishing childrens book first soon became annual childrens book festival two year earlier dr lena de grummond professor library science dr tracy’s blessing begun procure early childrens book support library science program spent countless hour writing author illustrator contemporary children’s book acquire original material library contribution artwork manuscript flowed across united state canada today author illustrator represented de grummond childrens literature collection original vision childrens literature conference dr tracy saw conference way highlight de grummond collection first conference may designed announce opening special childrens literature collection librarian teacher parent adult interested promoting childrens literature invited three day exhibit workshop panel discussion led publisher editor childrens book dr francis lander spain past president american library association former head childrens department new york public library spoke first evening session open public conference became known childrens book festival included event became honored tradition – presentation university southern mississippi medallion award distinguished service field children’s literature committee professional associated children’s literature selects recipient year unique among literary prize medallion awarded individual total body work rather one particular work medallion different cast silver recipient permanent display de grummond collection bronze sale public profile honoree engraved face obverse medallion illustration honoree work engraved reverse side since first award author lois lenski second annual children’s book festival southern miss medallion presented outstanding array children’s author illustrator dr onva k boshears served director festival dr jeannine laughlinporter assumed directorship year ezra jack keats internationally acclaimed author illustrator child invited accept southern miss medallion following visit keats became one strongest supporter childrens book festival de grummond collection since death university acquired personal professional paper original artwork typescript dummy preliminary sketch book material housed de grummond collection keats foundation established ezra jack keats lectureship barbara cooney artist honoree brian alderson first keats lecturer childrens author speak collection speech compiled dr laughlinporter sherry laughlin published includes number keats lecture well speech southern miss medallion honoree dr boshears dr laughlinporters directorship festival continued work closely chaired medallion selection committee spring resumed directorship festival continued director retirement dr rosemary chance assistant professor school library information science became director festival upon dr chance retirement dr catharine bomhold became director fay b kaigler children’s book festival miss fay b kaigler retired elementary school teacher native mississippian funded first kaigler–lamont award given distinguished service child librarian teacher december festival renamed honor miss kaigler contributed planned gift festival university southern mississippi medallion sometimes promoted southern miss medallion annually recognizes one person outstanding contribution field childrens literature inaugurated second annual festival silver medallion cast recipient president university southern mississippi member medallion selection committee de grummond childrens literature collection permanent display addition bronze medallion cast available purchase festival — program medallion lifetime achievement award conferred th time annual conference april official website contributor list finding aid index de grummond childrens literature collection childrens book council mississippi library association article festival