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This presentation was given at the Spring Virtual Conference on April 11, 2019.
N. Curtis Le May, President (2017-2019), Catholic Library Association
Heather Bouwman, Professor of English, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, Minnesota
Kate DiCamillo, Author and 2019 Regina Medal Recipient
Le May: We are so happy to see so many children's section members here today. When the Regina Medal committee selected Kate DiCamillo to receive this year's medal, we knew this was a special year in that we had an exceptional winner. As a result, the CLA Board set out to find someone special to present her with the 2019 award and to interview her on behalf of our board. We found Minnesota children's author Heather Bouwman, who has an outstanding track record for conducting online interviews with children's authors.
Heather Bouwman is the author of a number of children's books published under the name H. M. Bouwman, and her books for older readers are historical fantasy adventures. She also has books for younger readers, and her book series called Owen and Eleanor is about faith and friendship.
Heather lives in St. Paul, where, in addition to writing children's books, she is a faculty member in the University of St. Thomas's Department of English. I don't know how Heather does it, having an academic career and writing, but she also finds time to home school her two sons. I'm going to turn over the floor now to Heather Bouwman, from St. Paul, Minnesota, and we look forward to having a conversation with you.
Bouwman: Thank you, and welcome to the Regina Medal virtual award presentation. As Curt said, I'm Heather Bouwman, I'm a professor of English at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.
I am honored to preside at this Regina Medal Award presentation. The Regina Medal was established and first awarded in 1959. It's awarded annually to a living exemplar of the words of the English poet Walter de la Mare, "only the rarest kind of best in anything can be good enough for the young." The medal reads, "continued distinguished contribution to children's literature," and the only criterion for this medal is excellence.
Kate DiCamillo is the author of many books for young readers. Her books have been...