March 19, 2009

The Arne Nixon Center for the Study of Children’s Literature at Fresno State will host a Beatrix Potter celebration, co-sponsored by the international Beatrix Potter Society, April 18-19 on the campus.

The event will feature expert speakers on Beatrix Potter, a musical play based on “The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck” and the Arne Nixon Center’s annual Secret Garden Party.

Speakers and events will include:

• Judy Taylor – Former Beatrix Potter Society chairman and author of “Beatrix Potter: Artist, Storyteller, and Country Woman” and “Beatrix Potter: The Artist and Her World.

• Emma Laws – Frederic Warne Curator of Children’s Literature at the National Art Library in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

• Selwyn Goodacre – Noted British collector and expert on Beatrix Potter and Lewis Carroll.

• Katherine Paterson – Author and Newbery Medal winner for her novels, “Bridge to Terabithia” and “Jacob Have I Loved.” She is also the co-author of a musical play based on Beatrix Potter’s book “The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck.”

• Performance of the Puddle-Duck musical, as produced by Fresno State’s Theatre Arts Department’s under the direction of Associate Professor J. Daniel Herring.

Registration information and other details are available at www.arnenixoncenter.org.