Contact: Farrell Howe Marketing & Communications Manager Kalamazoo Public Library (269) 553-7879 It's Okay to Read Todd Parr is the Keynote Speaker for the 2014 Kalamazoo Public Library's 37th Annual Mary Calletto Rife Youth Literature Seminar EVENT: NOVEMBER 14! REGISTER TODAY Kalamazoo Public Library<http://www.kpl.gov/> is proud to announce the keynote speaker for the 2014 Annual Mary Calletto Rife Youth Literature Seminar<http://www.kpl.gov/youth-literature-seminar>: Todd Parr! This year's seminar also features educator and Michigan Cool Teacher winner Ed Spicer, and award winning EMU professor, Dr. Mary Bigler. Meet the Author Event Date: Thursday, November 13, 2014 Time: 6:30 - 8 pm Location: Central Library<http://www.kpl.gov/central/>, 315 South Rose Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49007 Meet the New York Times Bestselling Author, Todd Parr! Todd Parr likes the fog. He likes sea lions and dolphins. He likes to pain and his favorite color is blue. His favorite food is macaroni and cheese. He is also a dog lover. Meet the New York Times Bestselling Author of The Earth Book and the Emmy Award winning creator of ToddWorld. Author and illustrator of more than 30 books, Todd Parr is also the winner of two National Parenting Publication Awards and three Oppenheim Gold Awards. Bookbug will be selling books for the event for signing. 2014 Youth Literature Seminar Date: Friday, November 14, 2014 Time: 9 am - 3:30 pm (check in begins at 8 am) Location: KVCC Texas Township Campus<https://www.kvcc.edu/campuslife/ttc/ttc.htm>, 6767 West O Avenue (Map, Directions<https://www.kvcc.edu/about/virtualtour/area_map.htm> free parking) Registration Required: $40 (includes lunch) $20 College Students (with ID) with lunch $10 College Students (with ID) without lunch Call 269-553-7804 for more information or register online<http://www.kpl.gov/youth-literature-seminar/youth-literature-seminar.aspx>. * Bookbug Scholarship application<http://www.kpl.gov/youth-literature-seminar/bookbug-scholarship.aspx> * Schedule<http://www.kpl.gov/youth-literature-seminar/schedule.aspx> * Speakers<http://www.kpl.gov/youth-literature-seminar/speakers.aspx> About the Mary Calletto Rife Youth Literature Seminar The Mary Calletto Rife Youth Literature Seminar grew out of a yearly observance of Children's Book Week at the Kalamazoo Public Library. Each year beginning in 1919, the third week in November was designated as the time to celebrate good books for children. In 1978, Mary Calletto Rife, then head of the Children's Department of Kalamazoo Public Library, decided to expand the celebration into a seminar for librarians, teachers, students, and others with a desire to promote children's literature. The seminar was renamed in honor of Ms. Rife after she retired from the library at the end of 2001. Kalamazoo Public Library now leads a collaboration including Western Michigan University and Kalamazoo Valley Community College, the Kalamazoo Public Schools, and others in the community in producing this seminar each year. While the Children's Book Council, the national sponsor of Children's Book Week, moved their observance to the first two weeks of May in 2008, KPL continues to celebrate youth literature in November. KPL has hosted such youth literature luminaries as Laurie Halse Anderson, Christopher Paul Curtis, Kate DiCamillo, Sharon Flake, Angela Johnson, Steven Kellogg, Ron Koertge, Kadir Nelson, Jerry, Gloria Jean and Brian Pinkney, David Small and Sarah Stewart, Sonya Sones, Terry Trueman, and Tasha Tudor at previous seminars<http://www.kpl.gov/youth-literature-seminar/featured-authors.aspx>. Media: Images available - contact Farrell Howe at farrellh@kpl.gov<mailto:farrellh@kpl.gov> #### Farrell Howe Marketing & Communications Manager Kalamazoo Public Library 269-553-7879 | www.kpl.gov<http://www.kpl.gov/> [cid:image002.jpg@01CDBD09.DBA0DB80]<http://www.kpl.gov/>