Findlay, Ohio, April 1, 2002 —Fourteen noted artists and authors of children’s picture books will serve as keynote speakers for the 2002 Mazza Summer Institute at The University of Findlay July 22-26.

With the theme “Children’s Picture Books: Windows on the World,” a typical day at the institute will include up to five keynote addresses, pull-out sessions, breakfast, lunch and autographing sessions.

The keynote speakers are Chris Demarest, artist/author of a wide genre of books, such as Train, Firefighters A to Z, The Missing Cat, Winter, My Blue Boat and Cowboy A B C; Barbara Elleman, “Distinguished Scholar of Children’s Literature” at Marquette University and author of such landmark books as Tomie DePaola: His Art & His Stories, and Holiday House: The First Sixty-Five Years; Melanie Hope Greenberg, artist of many books, such as The Wind’s Garden, On My Street, Down in the Subway, Aunt Lilly’s Laudromat and My Father’s Luncheonette; Cheryl Harness, an artist with meticulous detail to historical accuracy and artist/author of many books, such as Remember the Ladies, Three Young Pilgrims, Young Teddy Roosevelt, Ghosts of the White House and The Amazing Impossible Erie Canal; Deborah Nourse Lattimore, artist/author of many books from ancient cultures, such as The Winged Cat: A Tale of Ancient Egypt, Frida Maria: A Story of the Old Southwest, and The Fool and the Phoenix: A Tale of Ancient Japan;

James Melvin, an artist who lives on the coast of North Carolina and illustrates many books about the region, such as Flossie Flounder, Perky Pelican, Stevie B. Sea Horse and Crabby and Nabby; Barry Moser, popular artist of children’s books who has illustrated many classics, such as Just So Stories, The Three Little Pigs, In the Beginning, Moby Dick or the Whale, Frankenstein: Or, the Modern Prometheus and The Holy Bible: King James Version; Bernard Most, artist of more than 50 books, some of which are How Big Were the Dinosaurs?, ABC T-Rex, Cock-A-Doodle-Moo, There’s an Ant in Anthony, If the Dinosaurs Cam Back and Row, Row, Row Your Goat; Jan Ormerod, a popular British artist whose books include Peek-A-Boo, The Water Babies, Miss Mouse’s Day, Grandfather and I, Ms. MacDonald Has a Class and Miss Mouse Takes Off; Anne Rockwell, a popular artist who has specialized in early concept books such as Growing Like Me, Things That Go, At the Beach, First Snowfall, Fire Engines and Long Ago Yesterday;

Nicole Rubel, illustrator of the enormously popular “Rotten Ralph” series by Jack Gantos; Suzanne Tate, an author works as a team with artist James Melvin to create the enormously popular “Nature Series;” Iza Trapani, an artist who has focused on books about popular nursery rhyme songs, such as Row Row Row Your Boat, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, I’m a Little Teapot and The Itsy Bitsy Spider; and Mike Wimmer, an Oklahoma artist who has illustrated many books for older readers, such as My Teacher Is an Alien, Home Run: The Story of Babe Ruth, A Taste of Blackberries and Staying Nine.

The Mazza Collection is the first and largest teaching gallery in the world specializing in the art from picture books. The Mazza Collection Galleria at The University of Findlay is considered by many distinguished artists of picture books to be “the center” of the children’s picture book art. The collection includes more than 2,000 pieces of art.

Space is limited to 350 participants, and registration closes July 18 or earlier if the maximum participation limit is reached. The basic registration fee is $225, which is waived for those taking the institute for undergraduate or graduate credit. Three, four or five hours of graduate credit is available for $286 per hour, while three hours of undergraduate credit is available for $372 per hour.

To register, call Ben Sapp at 419-434-4560.