Hundreds of local kids meet children's literature author and Southern Miss Medallion recipient,

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - Hundreds of kids were at USM’s Bennett Auditorium Wednesday morning to see children's literature author and Southern Miss Medallion recipient, Kate DiCamillo speak about her book, The Tale of Despereaux.

"It is like such a gift to interact with those kids. It's like I find that necessary," said DiCamillo.

During DiCamillo's presentation, she wanted kids to understand that they can do anything they set their mind to.

"When I was a kid, I thought writers had to be super-human. And, so, if they see me as a human being and they walk away and think then that's something that I can do too, because she's just a human being," said DiCamillo.

Although DiCamillo may not call herself super-human, she is humbled by the success she's had in writing children's literature, and now being the recipient of Southern Miss' Medallion.

"I look at the list of everyone that came before me. Those are the people that I grew up reading. So, to see my name with all those names, it's huge," said DiCamillo.

If you are interested in meeting DiCamillo, she will be at Southern Miss' Thad Cochran Center Ballroom Thursday morning.