The Gryphon Lecture series is hosted every spring semester by the Youth Literature Interest Group (YLIG) and features a leading scholar in the field of youth and literature, media, and culture. Gryphon Lectures are free and open to students and the public. A reception to discuss issues raised, network across departments, and meet with the speaker follows each lecture.
YLIG is an interdisciplinary group that brings together faculty and doctoral students who share a scholarly interest in children’s and young adult literature and media. Members include scholars from various disciplines (including Education, English, History, Library and Information Science) and institutions (U of I, ISU, EIU, and others). In addition to sponsoring the Gryphon Lecture, YLIG meets monthly to discuss research on young people, texts, and cultural contexts. Membership is open all interested scholars; if you would like to be informed of future meetings, send an email to ccb@illinois.edu
PAST GRYPHON LECTURES
2009
"What's So Funny About Children's Literature?"
Presented by Dr. Karen Coats, Director of English Education at Illinois State University and current reviewer for the Bulletin.
Audio: http://waterfall.lis.uiuc.edu/dl/events/gryphonlecture/gryphon030609.ram
2008
"'Because really they only have a few books I like...' Why Reading Teens Don't Use Libraries"
Presented by
Dr. Lynne McKechnie, Beverly Cleary Professor in Services and Literature for Youth at the Information School at the University of Washington and Professor at the Faculty for Information & Media Studies, University of Western Ontario.
Audio: http://waterfall.lis.uiuc.edu/dl/classes/auditorium/mckechniemar01_08_1.ram
2007
"Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore"
Presented by Roger Sutton, Editor-in-Chief of The Horn Book Magazine, former Editor of The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books.
Audio: http://waterfall.lis.uiuc.edu/dl/classes/auditorium/suttonmar02_07_1.ram.
2006
"Stony the Road We Trod : African American Children's Literature, Stories of a People's Journey"
Presented by Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, Faculty Emeritus, School of Teaching and Learning, Ohio State University.
Audio: http://waterfall.lis.uiuc.edu/dl/classes/ccb/gryphonfeb23_06_1.ram
2005
"Becoming What You Eat: Identifying with Food in Children’s Picture Books"
Presented by Perry Nodelman, Professor of English at the University of Winnipeg.
