Events and news
Events, exhibits, news, and newsletters from the Children's Literature Research Collections and the Kerlan Collection of Children's Literature.
Upcoming events: The 2025 Kerlan Award featuring Jim McMullan
October 28, 2025
Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Program begins at 6 p.m. with a reception and book signing to follow
Join us for the 50th annual Kerlan Award, honoring Jim McMullan. McMullan has
created images for magazine stories, books for adults and children, record covers,
United States postage stamps, murals, and animated films. He is well known for
having created over 80 posters for Lincoln Center Theater. Another highlight of
his career is illustrating the popular series of vehicle books, (including I Stink!, a
monologue by a garbage truck), written by his wife, the author, Kate McMullan,
which Amazon has transformed into the animated series, The Stinky and Dirty Show.
Location
Elmer L. Andersen Library, 222 21st Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55455 and on livestream
News and related resources
The ABC of It exhibit catalog
The catalog for our 2019 exhibit, curated by Leonard Marcus, may be purchased from the University of Minnesota Press or downloaded for free on the Libraries' Publishing Services page.
Kerlan Collection newsletter
View the latest Kerlan Collection newsletter, as well as past newsletters (2004-present).
Kerlan Award
Learn more about the Kerlan Award, including a list of past winners.
The Kerlan Blog
Read curator Lisa Von Drasek's latest children's book reviews and blog posts.
The Chase Lecture
Learn more about the annual Naomi C. Chase Lecture, hosted by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education and Human Development.
The Marion Vannett Ridgway Award
Learn more about the Ridgway Award, given annually to a debut author or illustrator.