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Georgia Conference on Children's Literature

As an integral part of Georgia’s literacy initiative for more than half a century, the Georgia Conference on Children’s Literature draws hundreds of teachers, school media specialists, public librarians, authors, illustrators, and children’s literature scholars from the Southeast and beyond. Join us for the 55th Georgia Conference where we’re sure to have an exciting line-up of keynote speakers, workshop sessions, and a diverse offering of break-out sessions.

The conference is closely connected to the Georgia Children’s Book Awards and the 2024 GCBA winners will be announced during the conference!

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The 55th Georgia Conference on Children’s Literature will be held on March 22-23, 2024.

Registration is now open!

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Upcoming Dates

Conference Speakers

David Bowles

David Bowles is a Mexican American author and translator from Texas. He has written multiple award-winning titles, most notably The Smoking Mirror, the 13th Street chapter book series, the young adult graphic novel series Clockwork Curandera, the picturebook My Two Border Towns, and the award-winning novel in verse They Call Me Güero.

Elizabeth Dulemba

Dr. Elizabeth “e” Dulemba is an award-winning illustrator, author, professor, blogger, and speaker. She has over three-dozen books to her credit, from board books to an illustrated novel, A Bird on Water Street—a Georgia Children’s Book Award-winner in 2016. Three of her recent picture books as illustrator were written by New York Times Best-selling author, Jane Yolen. Dr. e holds a Ph.D. in Children’s Literature from the University of Glasgow and an MFA in Illustration from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. She is currently working on a book on picture book design for Bloomsbury UK and is the new Director of Graduate Programs in Children’s Literature and Illustration at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia.

Torrey Maldonado

Torrey Maldonado was born and raised in Brooklyn’s Red Hook projects. He has taught in the New York City Public Schools for over twenty-five years. His fast-paced and compelling stories are inspired by his and his students’ experiences. Torrey’s popular young readers novels include What Lane, Tight, and Secret Saturdays. Hands, his latest novel, is a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection, has received a starred review from School Library Journal, and is a “Best New Book of 2023.”

Stacy McAnulty

Stacy McAnulty is a children’s book author, who used to be a mechanical engineer. She has written an impressive number of STEM picturebooks, and some wonderful middle-grade novels, including the 2023 GCBA winner Millionaires for a Month. When she’s not writing, Stacy likes bake (and eat!) triple-chocolate cupcakes. Originally from upstate NY, she now lives in Kernersville, NC with her 3 kids, 3 dogs, and 1 husband.

Bob Shea

Bob Shea is an award-winning author-illustrator of many popular titles, including the 2023 GCBA picturebook winner Chez Bob. Bob has worked with Comedy Central, was the designer of the PBS Kids logo, developed an on-air character for Playhouse Disney, worked with Nick Jr., has appeared on Noggin and The Sunny Side Up Show. Dreamworks is developing one of his books into a television show. He lives in a yellow house with his wife and son.

Be an ExhibitorExhibitors at the Conference on Children’s Literature have the opportunity to meet educators, media specialists, faculty, and children’s literature enthusiasts from across Georgia.
Be a SponsorSponsors at the Georgia Conference on Children’s Literature enhance the overall conference experience and will be recognized with a special acknowledgment in the printed program and online.
Thanks to our annual sponsorsPerma-Bound, Capstone, Martha Stockton Library Services, Get Well Johnny, Anderson Multicultural Books, Spanish 4 The Culture, Mary Frances Early College of education, Department of Language and Literacy Education, databooks.com, Payton Place, Bound to Stay Bound

What Others Say

I love this conference! I always learn something and come away energized.

After a two-year absence from the conference, it was GREAT to be back! I am retired now but still LOVE to attend. It’s always inspiring to meet the authors and illustrators who are forever my HEROES!

Out of all the conferences I’ve attended, this one is the best! What other conferences is there a chance you will be on the elevator with an author/illustrator or even have one come to your table and sit down with you?

Past Conferences

For 50 years, our conference has celebrated top authors and illustrators from around the world.

2024 Keynote Speakers
  • David Bowles
  • Elizabeth Dulemba
  • Torrey Maldonado
  • Stacy McAnulty
  • Bob Shea

Download the 2024 Program (PDF) 

2023 Keynote Speakers
  • Kirsten Cappy
  • Reem Faruqi
  • Victoria Jamieson
  • Omar Mohamed
  • Karl Newson
  • Anne Sibley O’Brien
  • Carole Boston Weatherford

Download the 2023 Program (PDF) 

2022 Keynote Speakers
  • Elana K. Arnold
  • Angela Dominguez
  • Alex Gino
  • Minh Lê
  • Leigh Turina

Download the 2022 Program (PDF) 

2019 Keynote Speakers
  • Kwame Alexander
  • Ben Clanton
  • Alan Gratz
  • Pablo Cartaya
  • Aisha Saeed

Download the 2019 Presentations
Download the 2019 Program (PDF) 

2018 Keynote Speakers
  • Kelly DiPucchio
  • Louis Sachar
  • Grace Lin
  • Laurel Snyder
  • Åse Marie Ommundsen

Download the 2018 Program (PDF) 

2017 Keynote Speakers
  • David Biedrzycki
  • Natalie Lloyd
  • Duncan Tonatiuh
  • Kelly Bingham
  • Kathryn White

Download the 2017 Program (PDF) 

2016 Keynote Speakers
  • Patricia McKissack
  • Eric Velasquez
  • Carmen Deedy
  • Michael Dooling
  • Alan Gratz

Download the 2016 Program (PDF) 

2015 Keynote Speakers
  • Clare Vanderpool
  • Jennifer Sattler
  • Susan Nees
  • Shonto Begay
  • Mike Artell

Download the 2015 Program (PDF) 

2014 Keynote Speakers
  • Jodi Moore
  • R. Gregory Christie
  • Judith Ortiz Cofer
  • Jennifer Holm

Download the 2014 Program (PDF) 

2013 Keynote Speakers
  • Deborah Wiles
  • Angela Johnson
  • Molly Bang
  • Pat Mora
  • Amanda Knoll and Howard McWilliam
2012 Keynote Speakers
  • Mike Wimmer
  • Barbara O’Connor
  • Carole Boston Weatherford
  • Jody Feldman
  • Meghan McCarthy
2011 Keynote Speakers
  • Mary Downing Hahn
  • Alma Flor Ada
  • Gail Gibbons
  • M.T. Anderson
  • Karen Beaumont
  • Susan Liverpool
2010 Keynote Speakers
  • Margie Palatini
  • Kadir Nelson
  • Andrea Davis Pinkney
  • Robert Burleigh
  • Fred Newman

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