Floyd Dickman, a children’s literature specialist, will present “Outstanding Picture Books of 2012” on Thursday, Nov. 1, in the Kreider Room of Bluffton University’s Marbeck Center. Free and open to the public, identical hour-long sessions will begin at 2:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Bluffton’s Lion and Lamb Peace Arts Center sponsors the annual program. Dickman was a founding board member of the center when it opened in 1987, and his collection of outstanding books for 2012 will be available for browsing there after the presentations.

In 1986, 1994 and 2002, Dickman was a member of the Caldecott Medal committee, which honors the artist of the most distinguished picture book for children. He was also a member of the 2009 Newbery Medal committee, which awards the author of the best children’s book, and the 2011 committee for the Pura Belpré Award, presented to a Latino/a writer and illustrator whose work best portrays and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children’s literature.

Dickman, who earned a master’s degree in library science from the University of Michigan, teaches at the Kent State University School of Library and Information Science’s Columbus location. That’s at the State Library of Ohio, where he has also been coordinator of library programs and development and the Ohio Center for the Book. He serves the University of Findlay as well, as co-director of the Mazza Museum of artwork from children’s books.

For more information, contact the Lion and Lamb center at 419-358-3207 or [email protected], or visit www.bluffton.edu/lionlamb/