Caldecott!

Since I started teaching elementary school and sharing books with my students over 20 years ago, I have admired and devoured the books that have received the annual Caldecott Medal and Honors.  As a new librarian, I was delighted to share these special books with more and more readers and to introduce them to artistic elements and mediums.  A favorite yearly activity became issuing a Caldecott Challenge and hearing from students which of the winners were among their favorites.  

It has been a longtime dream of mine to serve on the Caldecott Committee.  As a lover of literature, art and design, I've always felt this would be such an incredible experience.  I am over the moon to report that I will be on the ballot for the 2014 committee!  It is a long shot, but it's a shot.  I am truly honored to be considered and beyond thrilled at the possibility of serving on this esteemed selection committee. Thank you, ALSC (and to a special friend who suggested my name to the committee!), for this amazing opportunity!

ALA 2013!

Last week I traveled to Chicago for the American Library Association Annual Conference.  Here are a few highlights from the fun weekend:

1.  Caldecott Pre-conference

In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Caldecott Medal, ALSC offered a special pre-conference at the Art Institute of Chicago.  It was magnificent!  It started with a keynote given by illustrator/author Brian Selznick.  He spoke about Randolph Caldecott, told the history of the medal, and payed tribute to the late great Maurice Sendak, his mentor and friend.  It was hilarious, touching, and unforgettable.  

The rest of the day included panels featuring Caldecott winning illustrators, discussions about the winning books through the ages, and break-out sessions focusing on different aspects of the award, the honored books, media, and style.  

As a lover of both art and the written word, I appreciate the way the two come together beautifully in picture books, creating illustrated stories that delight readers of all ages.  I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this this day-long celebration of the Caldecott Medal and the wonder of picture books!

Caldecott Medal 75th Anniversary Logo created by Brian Selznick.  I love the clever way he incorporated several of the iconic characters from the winning books.  

Chris Raschka and his editor Lee Wade discussing the evolution of A Ball for Daisy. 

 
2.  Publisher Events

I was able to attend several fabulous publisher events throughout the weekend showcasing authors and previewing new books.  Thank you to Penguin, Little Brown, Random House, Macmillan, Simon & Schuster, and Disney Hyperion for including me in this fun events! 
 

With Sarah Dessen at the Penguin YA Rock Star dinner.   Laurie Halse Anderson, Marie Lu and DJ MacHale were the other rock stars in attendance!  Yowza!  

Little Brown dance party with cool Holly Black

No taxis could be found so several of us, including authors Holly Black & Paolo Bacigalupi, friend Dr. Marianne Follis, and hilarious literary agent Barry Goldblatt (AKA Libba Bray's husband!), took a limo back to our hotels.  What a memorable ride!  :) 

Scholastic Brunch featuring group readings done by authors Gordon Korman, Brandon Mull, Kirby Larson, Kat Falls, Kathryn Erskine, and Jeffrey Brown.  Hilarious!

Received a custom tattoo from Caldecott and Pura Belpre award-winning illustrator David Diaz at an S & S dessert reception 

  
3. The Fashion & Impressionism Exhibit at the Art Institute of Chicago

Friend Mary Pruitt and I took a break from the library events for a quick visit to the AIC. I had not been able to explore the museum during the pre-conference, so was glad for the chance to return for another visit.  The current exhibit showcases the impact of fashion on the Impressionist painters as they worked to portray modern life in their work.  Absolutely fascinating!  One thing I really enjoyed ... the exquisite wording in the descriptions of the art and inspirations. I collected so many delicious phrases!  

The lions outside the institute sporting Blackhawk helmets to celebrate the Stanely Cup victory!  :)

4.  Newbery Caldecott Wilder Banquet

I was so honored to sit with Random House publishers at the NCW Banquet.  This banquet is such a special annual occasion.  As several have said, it's like the Academy Awards for the world of children's literature.  This year's recipients delivered the most hilarious and heartfelt speeches.  It was a true privilege to be there and to be a part of the celebration of literary excellence.  And who was sitting at my table?  Newbery winning legends Cynthia Voigt and Patricia MacLachlan!  What an unforgettable evening! 

ALSC friends Gaye Hinchliff and Mary Ann Scheuer

With good friend Dr. Marianne Follis

The unbelievable Jon Klassen accepting the Caledecott Medal (and he won an honor too!).  I LOVE him. 

An incredible gathering of illustrators.  It's like an uber talented frat party!  

5.  Time with friends!
One of the best things about library conferences is spending time with librarians from all over the US!  I am so thankful for these friendships and the chance to reconnect every year.

With friends Karen Kessel & Mary Pruitt

With roomies Dr. Rose Brock, Heather Aston, and Dr. Mary Pruitt in our matching pjs!  A girl never outgrows the joy of a pajama party!  :)

What a terrific weekend.  And, to top it all off, I came home with oodles of books to keep me busy all summer!  Thank you, ALA, ALSC, publishers, and dear friends for another fabulous conference.  Can't wait for Las Vegas 2014!      

ALA Midwinter!

At the end of January, I attended the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Seattle.  ALA events are always such fun, invigorating celebrations of books and libraries.  It was an added bonus that it was located in Seattle and gave me an excuse to visit for the first time!  I completely fell in love with this beautiful city.  

Highlights of the weekend included: 

So much literary greatness in one place!

• Little Brown dinner at  Dahlia Lounge with authors Cat Patrick, Justina Chen, Sean Beaudion, and Suzanne Selfors
• Penguin dinner at Anchovies & Olives with authors Ruta Sepetys, Gayle Forman, Lisa Graff, and Gordon Dahlquist
• Macmillan, Disney Hyperion, and Boyds Mills Press preview events showcasing their upcoming releases  
• Random House Newbery panel featuring Christopher Paul Curtis, Kirby Larson, Jennifer L. Holm, Louis Sachar, Jerry Spinelli, Rebecca Stead, and Clare Vanderpool moderated by celebrity librarian Nancy Pearl at the Seattle Public Library - an all-star lineup at a perfect location.  What an event!  

The announcement of the Youth Media Awards happens on the Monday morning of the conference and is always an amazing experience.  Anticipation!  Excitement!  The room is a buzz! 
 
This year I was thrilled with the committees' decisions.  I adore illustrator Jon Klassen and love that he earned both a Caldecott honor (Extra Yarn) and the medal (This is Not My Hat)!  When the Newbery Medal was announced - The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate - the crowd went wild!... all so excited that such a beautifully written story that truly appeals to readers won the big prize! 

My only disappointment was that The Fault in Our Stars by John Green did not receive recognition by the Printz Committee.  After receiving so many (well-deserved!) starred reviews and resonating with so many teen (and adult!) readers, I felt it should have been named among the Committee's awards.  I was glad it did earn the Odyssey Medal for outstanding audiobook which it definitely deserved as 
 well. 

I must mention Jack Martin ... he is the president of YALSA and an absolute hoot.  As president, he announced all of the YALSA literary awards.  The early morning crowd was in for a treat when he approached the podium!  His announcements were hilarious ... full of pizazz and personality.  He sent "love bombs" to the crowd, and we all sent them right back!  Bravo, Jack, for a job well done.   

I was able to sneak off from the conference one day to enjoy a glimpse of the city.  I ventured down to the famous Pike Place Market which completely lived up to its reputation ... fresh fish, flowers, everything!  .... amazing places to eat ... darling shops... it's a feast for the eyes!  I must go back to take in more someday, but loved the bit I saw.  

Looking for a bite of lunch, I discovered a delicious restaurant called Matt's in the Market.  What a find!  The cozy restaurant overlooks the market and the bay and serves the most fabulous food.  I ate  at the bar, so I could be served by the renowned bartender Robbie.  He was a delight!  If I lived in Seattle, this would definitely be a weekly ritual!  If you are planning a visit to this city, be sure to add this restaurant to your list.  Make a reservation for the bar so you can enjoy some time with Robbie while enjoying your delicious eats.

It was a great weekend with friends, old and new.  Thanks to all the publishers for including me in the fun events and for sharing their exciting new ARCs.  My bedside table is now overflowing!  Now, I just need a month off to catch up on all this reading.  :)   

Paradise Found!

 Library conferences are always a slice of heaven for me .... colleagues, publishers, authors, new books, avid readers discussing  & celebrating literature... what more do you need?  But, the recent ALA Midwinter held in Dallas was a particular treat.  This year I was able to participate in two special events:  The Morris Seminar and the live announcement of the ALA Youth Media Awards. 

The Morris Seminar was established in memory of beloved children's publisher William C. Morris to further his passion and to continue "connecting librarians, and ultimately children, with excellent children's books."  Participants are able to work with experienced ALSC members who have served on evaluation committees to learn more about in-depth evaluation techniques.  This one-day seminar was an incredible experience.  I greatly deepened my evaluation skills while enjoying discussion with colleagues from across the United States.  It was the perfect way to begin my ALA Midwinter weekend.  

And, the perfect way to end the weekend was with the live announcement of the ALA Youth Media Awards.  These announcements took place at 7:45 a.m. Monday morning and the theater was electric with avid readers, librarians, publishers, and selection committee members!  I was as giddy and silly as a school girl!  It was like the Academy Award announcements and the Price is Right! combined.  The crowd erupted with every announcement. 

So many of my favorites were awarded medals and honors including Dead End in Norvelt by Jack Gantos, the Newbery Medal winner, Me ... Jane by Patrick McDonnell, Caldecott Honor, Blackout by John Rocco, Caldecott Honor, and Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman, Printz Honor.  Hearing all these major awards announced live has forever spoiled me.  Now, I need to win the lottery, so I can make sure to attend these every year!  

For a complete listing of the titles, read the ALA Press Release.  

Other ALA Midwinter highlights included: 

-  attending the YALSA BFYA Teen Session where local teens shared their thoughts about the BFYA nominees.  These readers did an outstanding job addressing the strengths and weaknesses of the novels, and it was very enlightening to hear their opinions. I was able to spend some extra time with the readers from Parish Episcopal School of Dallas which was an added treat!  



- attending publisher events spotlighting their authors and upcoming titles.   



Alvina Ling, Editorial Director at LB &
talented author/illustrator Peter Brown
at the Litte, Brown Breakfast Preview
(I know.. my smile is ridiculous.)  

- winning an original piece of art by Herve Tullet, creator of the fabulous Press Here, at the Chronicle Books Cocktail Party.         





What a great weekend celebrating books and libraries.  Can't wait for ALA Annual in Anaheim!