Book Week Lecture Archive

The Book Week Lecture in Children's Literature—originally called “Children’s Book Institute”—is a celebration of children’s book authors and illustrators. First launched in 1941 by Dora Smith, it is likely the oldest continuing event of this type in the country (it was cancelled only once, during the Covid pandemic in 2020). 

Since 2013, the Book Week Lecture has been the signature event of the College of Education and Human Development. In its 83 editions, this event has brought the UMN community award-winning greats in the field of children’s literature including Marguerite Henry, Madeleine L’Engle, Natalie Babbitt, Christopher Paul Curtis, Gene Luen Yang, Nnedi Okorafor and many others.

Archive of Book Week Lecture Authors

• Kate DiCamillo (October 17, 2024)

• Jason Chin (October 26, 2023)

• David Bowles (October 18, 2022)

• Eliot Schrefer (October 19, 2021)

• Donna Jo Napoli (November 7, 2019)

• Nnedi Okorafor (October 25, 2018)

• Thannha Lai (October 17, 2017)

• Candance Fleming (October 18, 2016)

• Pam Muñoz Ryan (October 19, 2015)

• Nancy Farmer (October 6, 2014)

• Gene Luen Yang (October 21, 2013)