Or, more formally, “A Comprehensive List of U.S. College- and University-Sponsored or -Hosted Children’s and Young Adult Literature Conferences, Festivals, and Symposia.” (All of them that I could find, anyway).

Several years ago, I was looking for such a list, wondered why I couldn’t find one, and decided to just go ahead and make one myself.

Since then, I’ve periodically updated and reposted it — as I’m doing right now. To be notified about future updates, just sign up for my Bartography Express newsletter.

If I’ve missed any events, or included some that no longer exist, won’t you please let me know in the comments section?

Arizona
University of Arizona Tucson Festival of Books

California
University of Redlands Charlotte S. Huck Children’s Literature Festival

Colorado
Metropolitan State University of Denver and University of Colorado at Denver Colorado Teen Literature Conference

Georgia
Kennesaw State University Conference on Literature for Children and Young Adults
The University of Georgia Conference on Children’s Literature

I’m looking forward to sharing my next book, We Match! (illustrated by Sharon Glick and published by Astra Young Readers), at conferences and festivals in 2025 and beyond!

Hawaii
Chaminade University of Honolulu Conference on Literature and Hawai’i’s Children

Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Youth Literature Festival (biannual)

Maryland
Frostburg State University Spring Festival of Children’s Literature
Salisbury University Children’s and Young Adult Literature Festival

Massachusetts
Framingham State University Swiacki Children’s Literature Festival
Simmons College Children’s Literature Summer Institute (biannual)
Wheaton College Beverly Lyon Clark Children’s Literature Symposium

Minnesota
University of Minnesota Kerlan Award Ceremony
University of St. Thomas Hubbs Children’s Literature Conference

Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival

Missouri
Missouri State University Children’s Literature Festival of the Ozarks
Truman State University Children’s Literature Festival
University of Central Missouri Children’s Literature Festival

New Jersey
Rutgers University One-on-One Plus Conference

At the 2024 Youth Literature Festival at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, associate professor Sarah Park Dahlen snapped this group shot of festival authors (back row, l. to r.) Hannah Moushabeck, Xavier Garza, me, Tameka Fryer Brown, Dawn Quigley, Ellen Oh, justin a. reynolds, and Suzanne Garcia-Mateus and (front row, l. to r.) Alice McGinty, Debbi Michiko Florence, Shannon Gibney, Anna Lapera, and Greg Neri. I’m happy to provide information about my own conference keynotes and other author appearances.

New York
Bank Street College of Education BookFest @ Bank Street
Columbia University Kweli Color of Children’s Literature Conference
Monroe Community College Rochester Children’s Book Festival
Stony Brook University – Southampton Southampton Children’s Literature Conference

North Carolina
Appalachian State University Children’s Literature Symposium

Ohio
Kent State University Virginia Hamilton Conference (“The Virginia Hamilton Conference on Multicultural Literature for Youth for spring 2025 has been canceled. Future conference dates will be announced when available.”)
The Ohio State University Excellence in Children’s Literature: The Ohio State University Newbery Award Symposium
The University of Findlay Mazza Museum Weekend Conference and Summer Conference
Youngstown State University English Festival

Pennsylvania
Community College of Philadelphia African American Children’s Book Fair
Kutztown University Children’s Literature Conference

Texas
Sam Houston State University North Texas Teen Book Festival

Utah
Brigham Young University Symposium on Books for Young Readers
Utah Valley University For the Love of Reading Conference

Virginia
The College of William and Mary Joy of Literacy and Literature Conference (“2025 is a planned pause for the Joy of Literacy & Literature Conference. We look forward to seeing you back at Joy in 2026.”)
Hollins University Francelia Butler Conference
Longwood University Summer Literacy Institute and Virginia Children’s Book Festival
Shenandoah University Children’s Literature Conference

Washington
Western Washington University Children’s Literature Conference