My breakfast today was DELICIOUS (shakshuka! fritatta! ricotta pancakes with lemon curd!). What was and even sweeter treat: I ate alongside beloved and distinguished picture book authors and illustrators whose visions were brought to life by the publishing professionals who gathered us there. I learned that stories like prolific author Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrator Frank Morrison’s upcoming Family Feast make its author think about what to do with all of the from-scratch recipes she’s collected over the years. And, if Jerry Pinkney were an animal, he’d be an elephant–at least according to his son, illustrator Brian Pinkney, who took Jerry’s tiny dummy book of draft illustrations for The Littlest Drop and completed the project following his death. (Can you see the print on Brian’s shirt? Look closely. Elephants!)
(Images taken by A. Rogers at the Random House Children’s Books Picture Book Breakfast.)
I was introduced to these creators’ works as a student at Simmons University, where I completed my Library and Information Science degree and had the honor of enrolling in one Children’s Literature course, The Picturebook. I had never previously considered picture books as distinct works of art. Since then, I’m unable to look at a picture book as anything else.
It was fitting, then, to (almost–there’s so much to do here at ALA) end the day at an alumni reception hosted by Simmons. I was so happy to see and talk with one professor I otherwise only saw online (albeit in synchronous classes) and another who I never saw without a mask in our in-person class held not long after students were let back into classrooms post-COVID.
Alicia Rogers (she/her/hers) is the Tween Services Librarian at Worcester Public Library–the library’s first! She hosts programs and builds collections for children ages eight to twelve in the children’s center and provides reference and reader’s advisory service in the library’s teen room to ease patrons’ transition between the spaces. Through her work, she strives to build community among the tween patrons who are craving some independence. Alicia is a member of ALSC and the Notable Children’s Book Committee and reviews for Booklist, The Horn Book, Library Journal, and School Library Journal. She loves books of all kinds (can you tell?), so is most looking forward to meeting and hearing from authors at the conference.
Please note that as a guest post, the views expressed here do not represent the official position of ALA or ALSC.
If you are interested in submitting a guest post, please read and fill out our Guest Blogging Interest Form. We would love to hear from you!