In association with Laura Ingalls Wilder Home & Museum

About the Festival 

  Authors' Schedule 

  Meet the Authors / Authors' Bios

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Children’s Literature Festival officially was organized in 2018, following the idea of Rev. Nicholas W. Inman (Director, Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum). The idea, which received the blessing of former Wilder Home Director, Jean Coday moved forward with Annie Busch (retired Executive Director of the Springfield-Greene County Library) serving as the Honorary Chairperson.

The charter meeting was held at the Seymour Public Library with the following individuals present to serve as the charter literature festival committee: Busch, Inman (President), Vicki Johnston (Secretary), Gayla Hancock, Teri Myers (Seymour Librarian), Michelle Underwood, Kim Ward and Marie Bristol. 

The inaugural festival was scheduled for April of 2019, coinciding with the Missouri Cherry Blossom Festival in Marshfield, Missouri and being held at the Marshfield Church of the Nazarene. Over 700 children participated in the first festival with the following authors speaking: William Anderson, Karolyn Grimes, John Nichols, Doug Gaston, Randy Plummer, Gina Crawford and Dorinda Nicholson. Participating students were invited to attend the festival and visit the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum in Mansfield, Missouri, which was included in their registration fee.

Following the success of the inaugural festival, the committee decided to relocate the festival to Mansfield, allowing easier access to the Wilder Home and Museum. The festival was also moved to November, where it was decided that it would be held during the first week of that month, each year.

The committee continues to work throughout the year to plan this exciting opportunity for students of all ages and they encourage everyone to learn more about this festival, which honors one of America’s most beloved children’s authors.  

Festival T-Shirts are available to order now ... CLICK HERE to place your order! 

Our Mission

To inspire the area children living here in the Ozarks to live through the pages of their favorite authors and to promote literacy.