It is very important for children of the United States to be exposed to literature created by authors and illustrators from other countries. It can be a first step in international understanding. Due to a commitment to this goal, our Festival tries to schedule as one of the five speakers each year a person who was born and raised in another country, a person who still lives in a country outside of the United States, or someone whose focus is on literature of other countries, regions, or cultures.

Our international speakers have included:

Anthony Browne: England
Lulu Delacre: Latin America
Baba Wagué Diakité: Mali, West Africa
Henrik Drescher: New Zealand
Fiona French: England
Helme Heine: Germany
Mollie Hunter: Scotland
P.J. Lynch: Ireland
Margaret Mahy: New Zealand
Stéphane Poulin: Canada
Robert Rayevsky: Russia
Peter Sís: Czech Republic
Gennady Spirin: Russia
Barbara Reid: Canada
Yoshi: Japan

Our Festival Gallery Collection contains pieces by speakers Anthony Browne, Lulu Delacre, Henrik Drescher, Fiona French, Helme Heine, Margaret Mahy, Stéphane Poulin, Robert Rayevsky, and Barbara Reid. In addition, we have originals by Leslie Brooks, Kate Greenaway, Errol le Cain, and Arthur Rackam.