Published: Sept. 27, 1998

Eric A. Kimmel, award-winning author of children's books including "Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins" and "Anansi and the Talking Melon," is the featured speaker at the 29th annual Virginia Westerberg Children's Literature Conference on Oct. 24.

The daylong event at the University of Colorado at Boulder is expected to attract about 500 people, including parents, teachers, librarians, writers, artists and storytellers.

Registration must be postmarked by Oct. 16.

Kimmel, of Portland, Ore., is the author of the Anansi series about the adventures of an African-American trickster figure, illustrated by Janet Stevens of Boulder. Stevens will hold a one-hour session at the conference limited to the first 125 registrants.

Other presentations will be given by Colorado authors Phyllis Perry, Carl Ruby and David Williams, storytellers Norma Livo, Bob Gasch and Heather McNeil, and area classroom teachers and librarians.

The conference is sponsored by the Colorado Language Arts Society and the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ-Boulder School of Education. Works of the featured presenters will be offered in an autograph and book sale area.

Cost is $25 for the full day including lunch and $20 for students. Sessions will run from 9:15 a.m. until about 3 p.m. in the University Memorial Center at Broadway and Euclid Avenue on the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ-Boulder campus.

Registrants should send their names and checks, postmarked by Oct. 16, to the Children's Literature Conference, School of Education, Campus Box 249, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0249.

For more information call the ¶¶Òõ¶ÌÊÓƵ-Boulder School of Education at 303-492-2568 or Professor Nancy Prosenjak of Metropolitan State College of Denver at 303-556-4753.