This past
weekend I attended my first American Library Association (ALA) conference. It
was held in Chicago, which I figured was one reason to attend. The fact that
the Newbery and Caldecott award presentation was occurring sealed the deal – I
had to go.
It was
interesting to attend a conference, but really just go for the exhibits and
dinners, not the sessions. In many ways it was more relaxing. My days weren’t
filled with session but my time still filled up quickly. I attended lunches
with friends, museum tours (see yesterday’s blog HERE), publisher breakfasts or
lunches. I visited the exhibit hall and had the chance to see the amazing books
that will be coming out this fall, speak to some of my favorite authors, talk
to publishers about the reactions my students have to their books.
The
nights were jam-packed. Friday night I had the privilege of attending a party
hosted by Walden Pond Press and was able to tell Anne Ursu how amazing I felt
her books were, especially her fall release – The Real Boy.
Saturday
author Elizabeth Fama was kind enough to host a whole group of us at her house
for dinner. It was the perfect location – quiet spots to visit with friends,
amazing food, inspiring discussion. Elizabeth was the perfect hostess - this was the first time I had met her or been to her house, but I felt right at home.
An added bonus was meeting so many wonderful authors there - Laura Golden, Amy Timberlake, Liesl Shurtliff, Elizabeth Dahl, and then Kirby Larson. I've wanted to meet Kirby for what seems like forever. I knew she would be amazing, and she was. Meeting Kirby for the first time was strange in that once we met, I felt like I had known her my entire life. What a warm person.
Sunday
night was the banquet. I wept as I listened to Jon Klassen, Katherine
Applegate, and Katherine Paterson accept their awards. All three speeches
inspired in a different way. Tears streamed down my face as I listened to their
words.
I first
began to appreciate Jon’s work with I Want My Hat Back. I’ve driven to
Anderson’s to hear him speak before, handed out Christmas presents created in
the likeness of his characters, and purchased every book of his I could find.
He never fails to great me with a hug when I see him. He has a sense of humor
that comes on quietly but leaves me laughing through my tears. Also, what
little interaction I have had with him has led me to believe he is the best
kind of person: hardworking, kind, loyal. He always talks about the other
illustrators who have helped him get where he is, and I like that he honors
others. Finally, when he talked about his books as his “little guys” and said
how proud he was of them, my heart melted. Such an amazing person.
Katherine
Applegate was an author I hadn’t met, but felt as if I had. I’ve “talked” to
her on Twitter a great deal over this year. After reading her brilliant The
One and Only Ivan over a year and a half ago, I knew it was going to be
big. I first knew about Katherine through the series she and her husband
created, Animorphs. Then I fell in
love with her writing in a beautiful book called Home of the Brave. With
IVAN, she reached a whole new level. I love that in her speech she not only
brought up her prior books, such as a Harlequin Romance novel, but poked fun at
her self as well. Katherine is not a new author, she has been writing for some
time. I’m thrilled to see her honored, not only because I believe her writing
to be on another level, but because she is so genuinely kind. She was swamped
this Spring with press after the Newbery was announced, but still took time to
answer some questions a few of my reading students had for her. She is quick to
hug, share some kind words, and then make you laugh. I’m so thrilled I had the
chance to meet her.
Katherine
Paterson was honored with the Wilder Award for lasting contribution to the
field of children’s literature. At one point I tweeted that her books shaped my
childhood, which means they also shaped me into the person I am today. I still
remember touring the NCTE exhibit halls with John Schumacher in 2011. John
grabbed my arm and pointed Katherine out and said we should go up to her. I
froze. I tried to explain that saying hello to Katherine Patterson is not the
same as saying hello to Mo Willems – her books own part of my heart. My ten-year-old
self could never have imagined that one day I would even be in the same building
as the woman who wrote the beautiful story of friendship between Jess and
Leslie, let along actually meet her. Bridge to Terabithia is a book in
my personal canon, as Donalyn Miller likes to say. It is part of who I am, my
reading history. I couldn’t talk to Katherine in 2011. I’ve seen her several
times since then, and still have been unable to say hello. It was only half way
through the receiving line last night after the banquet that I realized I was
going to be forced to say something, and I did. Katherine was at the end of the
line. I reached her and she grabbed my hand. At first, I froze. Tears welled up
in my eyes as I tried to tell her how much her books meant to me, how I had
seen her many times and have not been able to say a word. She was unbelievably
kind as she chided me for that, telling me that if I ever saw her again, I was
to say hello.
Heroes
come in all different forms. The three people I saw last night are surely some
of mine. They are brave, kind, and fearless in their own way. All touched on
how grateful they are for teachers and librarians working to match the right
book with the right kid. That is my job, and they help make it possible. I won’t
be able to attend ALA every year, but boy was I glad I could go this year. I
cannot imagine a better way to spend my weekend.
Slice of Life is sponsored every Tuesday by Stacey and Ruth from Two Writing Teachers
