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Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival

Celebrating excellence in children’s and young adult literature

2025 Push Card

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The 2025 Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival will take place April 9-11 on campus at The University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS. We’re honored to announce that LeUyen Pham is the 2025 Southern Miss Medallion winner. Pham has illustrated more than 100 books for children, including the Caldecott Honor-winning Bear Came Along by Richard Morris. She's worked extensively with Shannon Hale on projects like the middle-grade series Princess in Black and the Itty-Bitty-Kitty-Corn picture book series. Originally from Vietnam, Pham currently lives in Los Angeles with her family, her cat Sardine, and her gecko Kumquat. We can't wait to honor her career at the 2025 festival! 

Additional keynotes include Coleen Salley Storytelling Lecturer Jos N. Holman, Kate Leth, Carmen Agra Deedy, Susan Campbell Bartoletti, de Grummond speaker Will Hillenbrand, and SLIS lecturer Jamie C. Naidoo.

 

Contact Us

Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival

Southern Miss SLIS
118 College Dr. #5146
Hattiesburg, MS 39406

Hattiesburg Campus

Campus Map

Email
stacy.creelFREEMississippi

Phone
601.266.4228

 

The Festival began in 1968.

 

Over 300 teachers and librarians attend each year.

 

CEUs are available to Mississippi educators.