Nuts about the Newbery

I love books: reading them, talking about them and writing about them. I really LOVE great books which is why I am Nuts about the Newbery, so nuts that I have read every book that ever won the medal.

Knowing that much about me will tell you why I am STILL smiling from the amazing adventure I had last week. I went to the 2010 American Library Association Annual Conference in DC. If you have never gone I am here to tell you, GO! I had the most amazing time, met tons of my favorite authors/heroes, got several (lots) of new books, learned tons at sessions on topics like poetry and blogging, and had an AMAZING, magical evening at the Newbery/Caldecott Gala.

For the Gala I wore my purple poof dress. Before the event even started, I got to meet Grace Lin and Jerry Pinkney. I now have a set of all the Award and Honor books from 2010 autographed to me! The Gala was wonderful. I sat where I could see EVERYTHING. I met MORE wonderful people, my picture was on the power point, my name was under “Honored Guests” on the power point, and the President of ALSC even talked about me and my blog in his speech.

Because several ALA folks were working hard to grant my wishes, I did get to do some extra amazing stuff: a lunch in a presidential suite where I sat by Rebecca Stead, Jacqueline Kelly and Rodman Philbrick, another lunch where I got to sit by Cornelia Funke and heard from her and her editor about her new book, Reckless, and a lunch where I got to meet the 2010 Schneider Family Book Award winners. But the whole conference was amazing and full of interesting experiences.

One thing I really enjoyed was listening to the ALA Notable Children’s Book committee work. It was very interesting to hear them talk about some of the books I have read and LOVED this year (Out of My Mind, Mocking Bird, Countdown and One Crazy Summer!!!).

The other part of what made ALA great was the “atmosphere.” I was surrounded by people who love books and libraries, my kind of people! Having that many librarians in one place is amazing, so GO to ALA. Next year ALA Annual is in New Orleans. Being that I will be 11 and still won’t have a job I will not be there, but you ALL should go, meet the authors, listen to the sessions, meet people, celebrate award winning books, talk about books, get ARC’s of great books that are coming out soon, and have a GREAT time. GO and promise to tell me all about it!

Laura Rodgers
Laura’s Life

Watch an interview with special guest Laura Rodgers, from American Libraries Magazine:
[youtube qUEZwydtOik&feature link]