Author and Illustrator Steven Kellogg to Present Annual BERL Lecture
(Amherst, MA--April 10, 2017) Children's book author/illustrator and Regina Medal recipient Steven Kellogg will deliver the 7th annual Barbara Elleman Research Library (BERL) Lecture on Saturday, April 29th at 2:00 pm at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. The BERL series features the country's preeminent scholars, book collectors, researchers, editors, authors, and illustrators in the field of children's literature. Kellogg's lecture, a self-proclaimed "celebratory outburst of appreciation," is free with Museum admission. A reception and book signing will follow.
In The Enduring Magic of Story, Kellogg will share his appreciation for the gift of storytelling and how it enriches our lives. "Storytelling, both visual and verbal, has been a pervasive and important activity in societies throughout the thousands of years that have elapsed since the dawn of mankind, when human beings first mastered the ability to communicate with one another," said Kellogg. He will also speak about his admiration for the arts of writing and illustrating and how they are able to open gates to the world of stories and generate true magic, reminding us that "we all have a place in the storytelling circle."
"We are delighted to welcome Steven who has been a friend of The Carle since its creation. Embellishing the folktale of Paul Bunyan, imaginatively creating a friendly snake in the classroom, or fantasizing on paper about the antics of a Great Dane puppy are just a few of the plots that he has successfully turned into books through the years," said Barbara Elleman.
Steven Kellogg is the author and illustrator of over a hundred picture books. His love and dedication to stories and storytelling has been a lifelong pursuit: "It was early in my journey that I realized that stories and pictures were so compelling to me that my commitment would have to be a professional one."
He graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1963 and forty years later was presented with their annual award for significant professional achievement. Apart from that, his work has received numerous other recognitions including the Irma Simonton Black Award, the IRA-CBC Children's Choice Award, the Parents' Choice award, inclusion on the ALA Notable Books list, Booklist Editors' Choice, School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, The Horn Book Fanfare, and the list of Reading Rainbow featured selections.
In The Enduring Magic of Story, Kellogg will share his appreciation for the gift of storytelling and how it enriches our lives. "Storytelling, both visual and verbal, has been a pervasive and important activity in societies throughout the thousands of years that have elapsed since the dawn of mankind, when human beings first mastered the ability to communicate with one another," said Kellogg. He will also speak about his admiration for the arts of writing and illustrating and how they are able to open gates to the world of stories and generate true magic, reminding us that "we all have a place in the storytelling circle."
"We are delighted to welcome Steven who has been a friend of The Carle since its creation. Embellishing the folktale of Paul Bunyan, imaginatively creating a friendly snake in the classroom, or fantasizing on paper about the antics of a Great Dane puppy are just a few of the plots that he has successfully turned into books through the years," said Barbara Elleman.
Steven Kellogg is the author and illustrator of over a hundred picture books. His love and dedication to stories and storytelling has been a lifelong pursuit: "It was early in my journey that I realized that stories and pictures were so compelling to me that my commitment would have to be a professional one."
He graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1963 and forty years later was presented with their annual award for significant professional achievement. Apart from that, his work has received numerous other recognitions including the Irma Simonton Black Award, the IRA-CBC Children's Choice Award, the Parents' Choice award, inclusion on the ALA Notable Books list, Booklist Editors' Choice, School Library Journal Best Books of the Year, The Horn Book Fanfare, and the list of Reading Rainbow featured selections.
To Kellogg, the importance of picture books, especially for children, is "for the emotional, intellectual, and imaginative nourishment that words and pictures provide when they are artfully composed to create the magic of story." Indeed, Kellogg's own work has touched the lives and creative imagination of countless children. As well as a creator, Kellogg is also a board member of the National Children's Book and Literacy Alliance and has traveled to numerous schools, libraries, and colleges in all 50 states presenting programs that celebrate the joys of reading. More information about Kellogg and his work can be found at www.stevenkellogg.com.
