2012 Main Speaker Lineup
The Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival is THE place to meet nationally known authors, illustrators, and storytellers.
 | 2012 Southern Miss Medallion recipient Jane Yolen Over the course of a career that spans four decades, 2012 Medallion winner Jane Yolen has published over 300 books. Reflecting Yolen's diverse interests and wide-ranging talent, these books span every genre, from non-fiction to science fiction. Often referred to as the "the Hans Christian Andersen of America" for the sheer range and scope of her amazing body of work, Jane has dedicated her life to bringing the world to life for children and young adults through her writing. |
 | 2012 de Grummond Children's Literature Collection Lecturer Margery Cuyler Margery Cuyler has written over forty children’s books, including picture books, novels, poetry anthologies and non-fiction. Her most recent picture books are Bullies Never Win, I Repeat Don’t Cheat!, and Guinea Pigs Add Up. She has received many honors including the IRA Teacher’s Choice and Children’s Choice and numerous state recognitions. In addition to being a prolific writer, Margery has over twenty years in the publishing industry with Holiday House, Inc., Henry Holt and Company, and most recently Marshall Cavendish |
 | Matt de la Peña is the author of four young adult novels, Ball Don't Lie, Mexican Whiteboy, We Were Here, and I Will Save You. Each of these novels was named by the American Library Association's Young Adult Library Service Association to their their Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list or their Best Books for Young Adults list. de la Peña is also the author of the 2011 picture book A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis. He currently resides in New York City, where he teaches creative writing at New York University. |
 | Rebecca is a poet and picture book author of such titles as What is Science? (a 2006 Subaru SB&F prize finalist), and Lemonade Sun (an American Booksellers "Pick of the Lists"). Her work is featured widely in poetry anthologies and textbooks. Rebecca promotes children's poetry, giving presentations and workshops to students, teachers, librarians and writers. She lives in Indiana. |
 | Denise Fleming has written and illustrated over fifteen books for children, including Buster, Barnyard Banter, and In the Tall, Tall Grass. Her book In the Small, Small Pond won a 1994 Caldecott Honor, and her collective body of works has won numerous other awards and accolades. The artwork in her books is filled with strong color and energy and is often created through papermaking and pulp painting done by Fleming herself. |
 | 2012 Coleen Salley Storytelling Award recipient Caroline Herring. Caroline Herring is not only a folk singer-songwriter, she is the quintessential storyteller. Listen to any of her music and you will be taken away by stories to and times that you never dreamed of hearing about first hand. Ms. Herring is a native of Canton, MS and takes her southern heritage seriously while spinning her tales. "The Little House Songs," Herring's latest project and sixth CD, is derived from Virginia Lee Burton's The Little House. |
 | Jennifer Holm has authored over twenty books, three of which have been awarded a Newbery Honor award: Our Only May Amelia in 2000, Penny from Heaven in 2007, and most recently, Turtle in Paradise in 2011. Her other works include Middle School is Worse than Meatloaf, the Boston Jane trilogy, and the well-known Babymouse series, illustrated by her brother Matthew Holm. She lives in California with her husband Jonathan Hamel, with whom she collaborated on the series The Stink Files. |
 | 2012 Keats Lecturer Anita Silvey Anita Silvey has been a fan and advocate of books for children and teens for over forty years, appearing on various radio and television programs, and even authoring her own books on the topic including 100 Best Books for Children, 500 Great Books for Teens, and Everything I Need to Know I Learned from a Children’s Book. Her latest venture is her Children's Book-A-Day Almanac blog, where Silvey highlights a book a day, providing excerpts, background, and great insight. You can learn more about her and her newest book Henry Knox: Bookseller, Soldier, Patriot at anitasilvey.com.
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