The Spring 2012 volume of the Journal of Children’s Literature, features a story about university summer literature programs and features the Authors’ and Illustrators’ Art and Craft course coordinated in recent years by Linda Pavonetti and Jim Cipielewski. The article “Summer Spectacular: Children’s Literature Workshops, Institutes, and Classes” covers the planning, budgeting and success stories of two summer programs – one at Shenandoah University and the program at Oakland University.
Oakland University’s Authors’ and Illustrators’ Art and Craft course brings award-winning creators of children’s literature to campus every summer and has been a tradition since the 1970s. Originally, the program began as a week-long conference on reading and has since turned into a four-credit graduate course. Over the years, the program has featured such notable authors as Linda Sue Park and Ashley Bryan. The 2012 course will feature Caldecott Medal winner Erin Stead, Patricia Polacco and Detroit native, Wong Herbert Yee, among others.
Linda Pavonetti is a professor and Department Chair in Reading and Language Arts. Jim Cipielewski is an Associate Dean in the School of Education and Human Services. Authors’ and Illustrators’ Art and Craft is a graduate course, but is open to undergraduates and others - even grandparents! - with permission. The course starts July 2 at Pawley Hall, on Oakland University’s main campus.
For more information about the Authors’ and Illustrators’ Art and Craft, please contact Linda Pavonetti at pavonett@oakland.edu