The Spring 2021 Plum Creek Literacy Festival adult conference will be a little different this year in order to keep everyone safe as possible during the Covid-19 pandemic. As such, we have a smaller capacity on attendance and the schedule for the day will be unique compared to years past.
After registering, attendees will be sent a link where they can sign up for one of the tracks (see the three choices and schedules below). Each track has its own capacity, and we will follow a first-come, first-serve pattern in picking choices for a track for the day.
There will be opportunities to purchase books throughout the day. There will be no autographing lines for this event in order to create as safe of an environment as we can. We encourage pre-ordering books using our online system to guarantee signed and personalized books. You can order in advance and your books will be signed and ready for pick up when you arrive at your track for the day.
Available Items
Order Form
Participants will be able to pick up a gourmet boxed lunch over the lunch hour and spend time together learning from esteemed literacy expert, Regie Routman in a virtual keynote setting.
Register
Register online
Downloadable Forms
Special Bundle Opportunity
Bring 4 professionals from the same building and register for the full conference and luncheon at a special rate of $100 per attendee ($100 total savings when you take advantage of this offer!)
Before coming to Concordia’s campus for the conference:
-We ask you to self-screen before coming onto campus
-We require a face covering to be worn at all times except when eating lunch.
-Please do not bring any books from home to be personalized.
-Please wash/sanitize your hands regularly and maintain 6’ social distancing.
Find out more about Concordia’s response to COVID-19
Event Schedule
View the full list of speakers
Track A
Elementary Literacy
7:30-8 a.m.
Registration, Book Pre-Order Pick Up, Book Browsing
8-8:15 a.m.
Words of Welcome: Dr. Shanna Opfer, Director of Elementary Education
8:15-8:50 a.m.
Kathy Collins: Big Ideas for Our Littest Readers
9-9:35 a.m.
Evan Turk: Picture Books and Artistic Literacy
9:45-10:20 a.m.
Steve Light: From Sketchbook to Finished Art
10:30-11 a.m.
David Soman: Lions and Ladybugs and Bears, Oh My!
11 a.m.
Book Orders Collected
Transition to Cattle Conference Room and Pick Up Lunches
11:30-12:45 p.m.
Cattle Conference Room
Lunch and Learn with Regie Routman
Remarks from Festival Director
12:45 p.m.
Book Orders Collected
Transition Back to Track Locations
1-1:35 p.m.
Jonathan Stutzman & Heather Fox: The Power of Pictures and Words
1:45-2:20 p.m.
Sherri Dusker Rinker: My Path to Publishing: An Unexpected Journey
2:30 p.m.
Final Book Order Collection
2:30-3:05 p.m.
Grant Snider: The Path to Picture Books
3:15-3:50 p.m.
Daniel Miyares: The Language of Pictures
4-4:35 p.m.
Kathy Collins: What Else Do Readers Need?
4:45-5:15 p.m.
Rahele Jomepour Bell
5:15-5:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks and Book Pick Up
Track B
Middle Level/Secondary Literacy
7:30-8 a.m.
Registration, Book Pre-Order Pick Up, Book Browsing
8-8:15 a.m.
Words of Welcome: Dr. Benjamin Stellwagen, Director of Dual Credit/School Partnerships
8:15-8:50 a.m.
Gordon Korman: The Page Turner Principle
9-9:35 a.m.
Lauren Gatti: Always Questioning Everything
9:45-10:20 a.m.
Daniel Miyares: The Language of Pictures
10:30-11 a.m.
Sherri Duskey Rinker: My Path to Publishing: An Unexpected Journey
11 a.m.
Book Orders Collected
Transition to Cattle Conference Room and Pick Up Lunches
11:30-12:45 p.m.
Cattle Conference Room
Lunch and Learn with Regie Routman
Remarks from Festival Director
12:45 p.m.
Book Orders Collected
Transition Back to Track Locations
1-1:35 p.m.
Peter Lerangis: Writing, Very Dangerous. You Go First.
1:45-2:20 p.m.
Rahele Jomepour Bell
2:30 p.m.
Final Book Order Collection
2:30-3:05 p.m.
John Hendrix: Visual Theology and C.S. Lewis
3:15-3:50 p.m.
Bryan Collier: You Can't Outgrow a Picturebook
4-4:35 p.m.
Javaka Steptoe: The Children's Book Industry is a Village
4:45-5:15 p.m.
Grant Snider: 10 Rules for Creativity
5:15-5:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks and Book Pick Up
Track C
Writing/Illustrating Books
7:30-8 a.m.
Registration, Book Pre-Order Pick Up, Book Browsing
8-8:15 a.m.
Words of Welcome: Dylan C. Teut, Plum Creek Literacy Festival Executive Director
8:15-8:50 a.m.
Bryan Collier: You Can't Outgrow a Picturebook
9-9:35 a.m.
Johnathan Stutzman & Heather Fox: The Power of Pictures and Words
9:45-10:20 a.m.
Rahele Jomepour Bell
10:30-11 a.m.
Evan Turk: Picture Books and Artistic Literacy
11 a.m.
Book Orders Collected
Transition to Cattle Conference Room and Pick Up Lunches
11:30-12:45 p.m.
Cattle Conference Room
Lunch and Learn with Regie Routman
Remarks from Festival Director
12:45 p.m.
Book Orders Collected
Transition Back to Track Locations
1-1:35 p.m.
Steve Light: From Sketchbook to Finished Art
1:45-2:20 p.m.
Gordon Korman: The Page Turner Principle
2:30 p.m.
Final Book Order Collection
2:30-3:05 p.m.
Javaka Steptoe: The Children's Book Industry is a Village
3:15-3:50 p.m.
David Soman: Lions and Ladybugs and Bears, Oh My!
4-4:35 p.m.
Peter Lerangis: Writing, Very Dangerous. You Go First.
4:45-5:15 p.m.
John Hendrix: How To Publish the Unpublishable
5:15-5:30 p.m.
Closing Remarks and Book Pick Up
