West Plains author Jill Pietroburgo will be a featured speaker at the 2026 Laura Ingalls Wilder Children's Literature Festival, scheduled for Thursday and Friday in Mansfield. The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. both days. Pietroburgo will present her new release, "From Your Hands to My Heart: The Power of Nurturing Touch." The festival will also feature acclaimed author and illustrator Marc Brown, creator of the "Arthur" book series, who will receive the 2026 Laura Ingalls Wilder Children's Literature Award. Organized in 2018 by the Rev. Nicholas W. Inman, director of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Home and Museum, the festival aims to promote literacy and inspire children across the Ozarks. The inaugural 2019 event was held in Marshfield and drew more than 700 children. The festival was later relocated to the first week of November in Mansfield to provide attendees with easier access to the Wilder Home and Museum. Admission is $8 for adults and $5 for children ages 6 to 17. (Jill Pietroburgo/Contributed)