About me
Cathie Mercier serves as director of the Center for the Study of Children’s Literature and of the graduate degree programs in Children's Literature. Her interest in children’s literature – especially the visual images in picturebooks and the figurative power of adolescence in literature for adults – has contributed to a variety of publications across disciplines with footholds in children’s literature. Her professional leadership has included advising the MacArthur Foundation (Genius Grants) and selection of the National Youth Ambassador. She has served on the 1994 and 2012 Caldecott Committees, the 1999 Newbery, the 2000 Sibert, chaired the 2004 Sibert Committee, the 2019 Geisel and chairmanship of the 2009 Legacy Award Committees. In the Children’s Literature Association, she has judged the 2020-2022 Phoenix Picture Book Award. She chaired the 2021the National Book Awards for Young People’s Literature. She currently serves on a three-year term with the 2023 Ezra Jack Keats Award to recognize and celebrate new artists. Her exhibit on visual metafiction "Playing with Pictures" is in display at the Eric Carle Museum through October 2024.