FESTIVAL OWL PROJECT

CALLING ALL CHILDREN’S BOOK ILLUSTRATORS
The Keene State College Children’s Literature Festival Owl Project

WHOOO? WHOOO? WHOOO are you calling?

THE FIRST OWL POSTER

The Enticement
You! I am calling all you talented artists who have published a children’s book. Imagine having a painting, drawing, or collage of an owl that you created displayed in a gallery of picture book art alongside the works of such esteemed artists as Eric Carle, Tomie dePaola, David McPhail, Brian and Jerry Pinkney, Wendell Minor, Diane Goode, and Mark Teague. Picture your own unique owl hanging in the gallery in the company of other wise birds created by award-winning artists like Denise Fleming, Mordicai Gerstein, David Shannon, Trina Schart Hyman, Betsy and Ted Lewin, Mary Azarian, David Diaz, and Paul O. Zelinsky.

This gallery I speak of is on the campus of Keene State College in New Hampshire. It is visited by thousands of people every year. Many of the visitors are people like me—individuals who have a passion for children’s books. We are teachers, librarians, students, professors, children’s authors and illustrators. And during the Keene State College Children’s Literature Festival, held in late October every year, the gallery is mobbed with hundreds of Festival attendees trying to catch a peek of the “new” owls that weren’t on display the previous year.

THE SECOND OWL POSTER

The Invitation
I am inviting you on behalf of Dr. David White, the director of the Children's Literature Festival, to be a contributor to the college’s Festival Owl Project. The college will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2009. It is the goal of the Festival to have 100 owls for that special occasion. (They now need about 30 more owls.) The Blue Rose Girls have already informed David of their intent to participate in the “owl” campaign.

Come join the Blue Rose Girls in helping Keene State College to reach its goal in time for their big celebration in 2009!

For contact information and further reading, visit the Festival Owl Project page at the Keene State College Children’s Literature Festival website.

NOTE: If you decide to be a participating artist, please tell David that the Blue Rose Girls sent you.