Bellon Visiting Author Series to feature Award Winning Author/Illustrator S.D. Nelson March 6-8 in Pocatello, Chubbuck

 The 31^st annual Bellon Visiting Author Series will feature award-winning author and illustrator S.D. Nelson March 6-8, with public events at the Idaho State University College of Education, Marshall Public Library and Portneuf District Library. 

Nelson is a member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in the Dakotas currently living in Flagstaff, Arizona. He is the award-winning author and illustrator of numerous children's books, winning many accolades, including the American Indian Library Association's Youth Literature Award, a place on the Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List, the Western Writers of America Spur Award, and recently the Carter G. Woodson Honor book Award for distinguished social science books.

The Bellon Visiting Author Series is sponsored by the Southeast Idaho Reading Council and the ISU College of Education. The public is invited to meet Nelson on Monday, March 6, 4-6 p.m. at the Marshall Public Library, Tuesday, March 7 from 7-8 p.m. at the College of Education on the ISU campus, and on Wednesday March 8 from 4-5 p.m. at the Portneuf District Library in Chubbuck. Several of Nelson’s books will be available for purchase at each public event and there will be a book signing from 6:30-7 p.m. at the event on Tuesday.  As a highlight of the Bellon Visiting Author Series, Nelson will also be visiting several schools in the Pocatello, Chubbuck, and Fort Hall areas to share his work with local students.

            The Bellon Visiting Author Series began in 1986, when Dr. Beverly J. Klug and a group of community volunteers created the event for community members and students and faculty in the College of Education to listen to award-winning authors who focus on diversity.

In 2005, Jerry and Elner Bellon created the Bellon Visiting Author Series Endowment to help sustain the popular event.  Jerry and Elner were both tenured faculty in the College of Education at the University of Tennessee, where Jerry also served as professor and college administrator.  Following their retirement they provided consulting services to school districts around the world.  They are both graduates of the Idaho State University College of Education.