EIU Children’s Literature Symposium to present public events February 25, 26
Feb-16-2026(Charleston, IL) – Eastern Illinois University’s Mary J. Booth Library invites the campus and community to two feature presentations as part of EIU’s 2026 Children’s Literature Symposium in late February. The presentations will be offered free and open to community members while providing an educational engagement opportunity for EIU students, faculty and staff.
Two accomplished professionals in the field of children’s literature will be featured as part of EIU’s 2026 Children’s Literature Symposium:
Wednesday, February 25 at 5 p.m. with a 5:30 p.m. reception to follow
This event will feature EIU alumna Dr. Jan Spivey Gilchrist (’73), whose presentation focuses on and is titled “Making Books for ALL Children: A Celebration of My Life's Work.” The presentation will detail her personal insight into the world of children’s literature as an illustrator of more than 100 and author of 5 children’s books, and whose contributions have also included a host of academic and textbook illustrations. Dr. Gilchrist holds a B.S. degree in Art Education from EIU; an M.A. in Painting from the University of Northern Iowa; an M.F.A. from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and a Ph.D. in English from Madison University. Beyond being an award-winning author and illustrator, Gilchrist is a 1992 EIU Distinguished Alumna Award recipient and former member of the EIU Board of Trustees (2013-2019).
*The Black Student Union RSO is co-hosting a documentary screening of Colors of Love: The Jan Spivey Gilchrist Story, on Monday, February 23 at 5 p.m. in the Library’s Center for Student Innovation. The documentary illustrates Gilchrist's triumph from the dark shadows of the civil rights era to ascend as a heralded children's books illustrator and author.
Thursday, February 26 at 5 p.m. with a 5:30 p.m. reception to follow
Dr. Suzan Alteri, Ph.D., 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.
Each presentation will be followed by question-and-answer sessions. Parking is free and open to the public after 5 p.m. Also publicly available Thursday, February 26, at 4 p.m. will be Children's Literature Research Lightning Rounds in which faculty scholars who conduct research in the field of children's literature will share their findings.
EIU’s 2026 Children’s Literature Symposium is a two-day celebration honoring the importance, craftsmanship, and rich history of literature created for children. Through partnerships between Booth Library’s Ballenger Teachers Center, the EIU College of Education and Department of English, Charleston CUSD #1 elementary schools, and St. John’s Lutheran School, the symposium exemplifies the strong and collaborative bonds between Eastern Illinois University and the surrounding community.
Booth Library invites all to attend these free public events to celebrate the importance of literature for children and early learning, and to engage with leading voices in children’s literature scholarship in the State of Illinois.
These events complement Booth Library’s continuing series: Authors@EIU. Through this series, the Library will recognize and celebrate EIU’s intellectually vibrant community and its contributions to discovery, knowledge creation, and public learning. During the Spring 2026 semester, six authors will be featured, celebrating the research, scholarship, and creative achievements of Eastern Illinois University faculty and alumni.
About Booth Library
Eastern Illinois University’s Mary J. Booth Library is celebrating its 75th year anniversary during academic year 2025-2026. Since opening as a dedicated library in 1950, Booth Library has become a cornerstone of teaching, research and community engagement, serving not only EIU but also students, educators, and residents throughout Central Illinois. For more information about Booth Library, the 2026 Children’s Symposium, or EIU’s Spring 2026 Authors@EIU series, contact Booth Library Exhibits & Events Coordinator Diane Highland at dehighland@eiu.edu or by calling (217) 581-6061.
About EIU:
EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, or any of EIU’s other community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s public information office at (217) 581-7400.
