Published: Aug. 17, 1999

The 30th annual Virginia Westerberg Children's Literature conference at the University of Colorado at Â鶹¹ÙÍø will feature three-time Newbery honor award winner Zilpha Keatley Snyder on Saturday, Oct. 2.

Snyder is the author of "The Egypt Game," "The Headless Cupid," and "The Witches of Worm," in addition to many other titles. She will be the featured speaker at the daylong event at the CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø School of Education.

Another highlight will be the winners of the Colorado Language Arts Society 1998-99 Elementary Storytelling Contest, who will perform at 11:45 a.m. The winners are primarily in fifth and sixth grade and are from throughout the state.

The conference will begin at 9:15 a.m. and is expected to attract about 400 people, including parents, teachers, librarians, writers, artists and storytellers.

Snyder, of Mill Valley, Calif., is well known for writing books that are enjoyed by adults as well as children, said Judy Volc, children's literature specialist at the Â鶹¹ÙÍø Public Library. Only a handful of Newbery Honor Books are selected each year and are the runners-up to the winner of the Newbery Award, the most prestigious prize in children's literature.

In addition to Snyder's luncheon talk, the conference will feature more than 20 one-hour presentations given by authors, storytellers, area classroom teachers and librarians.

The conference is sponsored by the Colorado Language Arts Society and the CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø School of Education. Cost is $25 for the full day including lunch and $20 for students. Sessions will run from 9:15 a.m. until about 3 p.m. in the School of Education on the CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø campus.

Registration will be taken up to the day of the event, but lunch cannot be guaranteed after Sept. 24. Registrants should send their names and checks to the Children's Literature Conference, School of Education, Campus Box 249, University of Colorado, Â鶹¹ÙÍø, CO 80309-0249.

For more information call the CU-Â鶹¹ÙÍø School of Education at 303-492-2568 or Professor Nancy Prosenjak of Metropolitan State College of Denver at 303-556-4753.