2025 Charlotte Zolotow Lecture: Christina Soontornvat - The Universe and the Details
Presented in partnership with the Cooperative Children's Book Center.
This year's lecture speaker will be Christina Soontornvat, who is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty books for children of all ages. Her lecture titled “The Universe and the Details" will discuss her books All Thirteen, A Wish in the Dark, The Tryout, and more.
Established in 1998, the lecture was named to honor Charlotte Zolotow, a distinguished children's book editor for 38 years with Harper Junior Books, and author of more than 65 picture books, including such classic works as Mr. Rabbit and the Lovely Present (Harper, 1962) and William's Doll (Harper, 1972). Ms. Zolotow attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison on a writing scholarship from 1933-36 where she studied with Professor Helen C. White. The Cooperative Children's Book Center, a library of the School of Education of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, administers the event which each year brings a distinguished children's book author or illustrator to the campus to deliver a free public lecture.
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is encouraged. The lecture will be live-streamed and recorded.
Christina Soontornvat
Christina Soontornvat is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty books for children of all ages. Her picture books include The Ramble Shamble Children, illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Lauren Castillo, and To Change a Planet, illustrated by Rahele Jomepour Belle. She is the author of the beloved Diary of an Ice Princess chapter book series and the bestselling graphic novel, The Tryout. Christina has received three Newbery Honor awards for her books for middle grade readers, and she is the only author to be awarded Newbery Honors for both fiction and nonfiction in the same year. Her account of the Thai Cave Rescue, All Thirteen, received numerous accolades, including the Kirkus Prize for Young People’s Literature. She travels all over the world to speak to children, writers, and educators about her love of reading and storytelling.
Christina grew up behind the counter of her parents’ Thai restaurant in a small Texas town with her nose stuck in a book. She is very proud of both her Thai and her Texan roots, and makes regular trips to both Weatherford and Bangkok to see her beloved family members (and eat lots and lots of Thai food!). In addition to being an author, Christina holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a master’s degree in Science Education. She spent a decade working in the science museum field, where she designed programs and exhibits to get kids excited about science. She is passionate about STEM (science, technology engineering, and math) and loves learning new things. She currently lives Tennessee with her husband and two daughters.