Regarded as one of the most engaging speakers in the children’s book world, author Leonard S. Marcus discusses his latest work, Minders of Make Believe: Idealists, Entrepreneurs, and the Shaping of American Children’s Literature on Wednesday, October 1, at 7 p.m. at the Plaza Branch, 4801 Main St.

Born and raised in New York, Marcus holds degrees in history from Yale and in poetry from the Writers’ Workshop at the University of Iowa. His highly acclaimed books about children’s literature and the authors and artists who create them include: Margaret Wise Brown: Awakened by the Moon; Dear Genius: The Letters of Ursula Nordstrom; A Caldecott Celebration; Author Talk; Side by Side; Ways of Telling; Storied City; and The Wand in the Word: Conversations with Writers of Fantasy. Marcus is one of the most trusted critics in the field.

Marcus is also the author of Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Won Children’s Hearts, Changed Publishing Forever, and Became an American Icon Along the Way.

His book reviews have been featured in Parenting magazine in every issue since the monthly’s founding in 1987. In addition, Marcus has been a Parenting contributing editor since 1988 and has directed the magazine’s annual Best Books of the Year Awards since their inception that year.

He has been a frequent contributor to The New York Times Book Review, Washington Post Book World, The Horn Book, Publishers Weekly, among other publications, and is a three-time judge of The New York Times Best Illustrated Books of the Year prize.

Copies of Marcus’ books will be available for sale by Reading Reptile and the author will sign copies purchased at the event.