The Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature presents “Speaker Series: Home in Children’s Literature” from 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday, March 10, at the Fresno State Library’s Leon S. Peters Ellipse Gallery. Children’s literature experts Leonard Marcus and Jim Silverman will explore the theme of “home” in children’s literature and how those themes shape lifelong meaning for children.
About the speakers:
- Leonard Marcus’s curatorial work on Building Stories with the National Building Museum highlights how the built environment functions as an often-overlooked character in children’s literature, shaping how children begin to understand their surroundings and their place within them. Homes in books are not merely backdrops; they are spaces that invite exploration, offer refuge and spark imagination. (Appearing via Zoom.)
- Jim Silverman’s slideshow brings a complementary perspective with his focus on 19th- and early 20th-century children’s books published in California — from a Mexican schoolbook to Hollywood fairy tales. Together, the books reveal a sense of place defined by many cultures, self-invention, layered histories and only-in-California themes and storylines. (Appearing in person.)
This event is free and open to the public. Light snacks and beverages will be available. Advanced registration is recommended. For further information or accommodations, contact the Arne Nixon Center’s Librarian at karina@mail.fresnostate.edu.
