Rabbit Hill Festival of Literature

History

The festival is named to honor Robert Lawson, the only author/illustrator to win both the Caldecott and Newbery Medals for excellence in children's illustration and literature. He created his work in his Westport home and studio on Weston Road, which was called "Rabbit Hill."

Lawson's evocative characters and meticulous line drawings graced such classic children's books as The Story of Ferdinand, Mr. Popper's Penguins and his Newbery Award-winning Rabbit Hill. The Caldecott Medal was awarded to him for They Were Strong and Good. Lawson died in 1957. His work continues to inspire illustrators, writers and readers throughout the field of children's literature.

Thanks to Mrs. Martin S. Davis, who with her husband lived for a time at Rabbit Hill, the Westport Public Library is able to honor Robert Lawson and his tremendous contribution to children's literature through the Rabbit Hill Festival of Literature held in the spring.

2001 celebrated the world of authors and illustrators of children's literature featuring Leonard Everett Fisher, Ted and Betsy Lewin, Brian Pinkney, David Small and Sarah Stewart, Rosemary Wells and David Wisniewski.

2002 celebrated authors of historical fiction featuring Joseph Bruchac, Patricia Reilly Giff, Patricia MacLachlan, Katherine Paterson, and Richard Peck with special guest author Leonard Everett Fisher.

2003 celebrated animals in literature: fact and fiction featuring Jean Craighead George, Susan Jeffers, Wendell Minor, Jerry Pinkney and Hope Ryden

2004 celebrated real people in books for children and teens both nonfiction and fictional stories based on real experience featuring Jennifer Armstrong, Chris Crutcher, Mary Lyons, Jim Murphy, and Judith St. George.

2005 celebrated the many faces of children's literature with authors and illustrators Linda Sue Park, Lesa Cline-Ransome, James Ransome, Pam Munoz Ryan and Brian Selznick.

2006 celebrated authors and illustrators who drew their inspiration from the world around us featuring Cari Best, Bryan Collier, Bruce Degen, Kathy Jakobsen, Loren Long, and Melissa Sweet.

2007 celebrated authors who explored the themes of imagined worlds featuring Jeanne DuPrau, Gail Carson Levine, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Rick Riordan, and Neal Shusterman.