November 17, 2022 at 6:30pm

“Book Illustration Process.”

Jill Weber and Ryan O’Rourke

In-person and via Zoom

FREE for members, $15 for non-members

Jill Weber doubles as a children’s book illustrator and designer. Her favorite projects are the ones where she wears both hats. She has illustrated numerous books for children and adults, including The Story of Hanukkah, a NYTimes holiday pick, The Story Of Passover, and New York Times bestseller The Christmas Tree, which was written by Julie Salamon. Jill and Julie also collaborated on Cat in the City (Dial Books 2014) and Mutt’s Promise (Dial Books 2016 ). This year her new books are Pippa’s Passover by Vivan Kirkfield (Holiday House), What is the Story of Hello Kitty? (Penguin Workshop ) and Goodnight Bubbala by Sheryl Haft. When Jill is not at her drawing board, she can be found in her garden.

August 18, 2022 at 6:30pm

“Visual Conversations: Childhood, New England, and Picture Book Art.”

Cathryn Mercier, PhD

In-person and via Zoom

FREE for members, $15 for non-members

Cathie was appointed to Simmons in 1985 and has been teaching in the graduate degree program in children’s literature ever since. She teaches criticism, contemporary young adult realism, the child in fiction, the picturebook, and a survey course. Her thesis, independent study, and internship advising embrace a wide range of topics, from a cultural analysis of Printz titles to an annotated bibliography of historical fiction for curricular use. “As advisor of a thesis that asked, ‘What can queer theory tell children’s literature?’ I met regularly with the student to discuss ideas. We both learned from the books, and I hope she learned from me. But I consider it my best teaching experience because of how very much I learned from her,” said Mercier, who was thrilled when part of her student’s thesis was included in a book of new voices in children’s literary criticism.

In addition to teaching, Cathie has contributed to the journal Children’s Literature and to The Horn Book Magazine. Her skill at “close reading, an ability to talk about books so that others see the book at its most ambitious and complex, and a talent for collaboration” has made her a valuable member of national book award committee.  She currently serves on the Subaru Prize Committee of the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences/Young Adult Division, and has served on multiple children’s literature award committees.

June 16, 2022 at 6:30pm

Bob Staake, “A Palette of Pixels”

In-person and via Zoom

FREE for members, $15 for non-members