University Newsletter
EIU Children's Literature Symposium presentation: Suzan Alteri, Ph.D. February 26
Join us in Booth Library's Center for Student Innovation on Thursday, February 26 at 5 p.m. for a visit with Dr. Suzan Alteri, Ph.D., a featured presenter for EIU's 2026 Children's Literature Symposium who will explore how children’s books shape the way young readers understand identity, belonging, and difference in a talk titled “Racism and Representation in Children’s Literature.” Drawing on historical and contemporary examples, she will examine both the power of inclusive representation and the lasting impact of harmful stereotypes in stories written for children. Dr. Alteri is Assistant Director of the Center for Children’s Books at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. She previously served as Curator of the Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature at the University of Florida, one of the world’s most significant collections documenting the history of children’s books.
The event is free and open to the public, and will begin with a reception at 5 p.m., followed by Dr. Alteri's presentation, and a question/answer session. Parking is free after 5 p.m. in any campus lot.
