This was my second ALA Midwinter, and the first one I’ve been to since 2017. I didn’t get to the YMAs this year, but am THRILLED that the Newbery went to Jerry Craft’s graphic novel, New Kid. (Thanks to everyone posting the YMAs as they were announced, too – I was refreshing my Twitter and Instagram feeds like a woman possessed this morning!) It was exciting to be back at Midwinter. There’s an energy at this show you just can’t describe, you need to feel. I got to spend some time with my ALSC mentee, Samantha; even though we didn’t get a chance to write that joint blog post at MW, maybe there’s another one in the making soon! I got to attend my first committee meeting; got to see publisher and librarian folks I normally only get to chat with online; and brought home SO MANY BOOKS. Seriously, SO…
Author: Rosemary Kiladitis
#ALAMW20, the Graphic Novels and Comics Roundtable, and coffee: a love story
What a way to start the first full day of Midwinter: with coffee and comics. The Graphic Novels & Comics Roundtable held a great morning session. YA author (and now, graphic novel author!) Sabaa Tahir delivered an opening keynote where she divulged that she, like I, has a second grader CONSUMED with Dog Man. From there, 10 graphic novel publishers visited tables on a speed dating-type format, often accompanied by authors, to talk about their books. Starting off my morning by meeting Marieke Nijkamp and Kieron Gillen? Yes, please! There are so many great graphic novels coming for our shelves. I’m thrilled to see graphic novels getting more love and respect as educational tools, because they’re kind of a perfect medium for so many. Kids who are overwhelmed by print, or don’t do well with print often find their bliss with graphic novels. ESL students can learn English at a…
#alamw17 Scholastic Literary Event
This morning’s Scholastic Literary Event spotlighted some fantastic middle grade fiction. Four authors were there to present readings from their newest books: Gordon Korman, whose newest book, Restart, looks at a bully who’s lost his memory and is finding he’s a very different person – if everyone around him will let him be. Natasha Tarpley, whose novel, Harlem Charade, blends mystery and art, with a protagonist who’s living on the streets and trying to find out what happened to his grandfather, who was attacked. Madelyn Rosenberg and Wendy Wan-Long Shang, whose novel, This is Just a Test, takes an often hilarious look at a Chinese-American Jewish boy in the early 1980s, who’s worried about nuclear war and his two warring grandmothers. Each author gave a brief talk, introduced his or her book, and, in a fun departure from the usual author readings, engaged the other authors in creating a little…
alamw17 Maker Break
After walking the beat in the exhibit hall (and making two trips to the Post Office area), I sat in on the Maker Break from DK Publishing. I love their maker books – Maker Lab was the handbook that guided a lot of my STEM and Summer Reading programming last year – and I’m excited that they’ve got a new book coming this Spring that will have “cardboard engineering projects”. If there’s one thing I have a surplus of both at home and work, it’s cardboard, so Out of the Box is my kind of book! There were snacks and drinks, and goodies at the table, including a cool DK maker backpack and calendar for each attendee. One surprise maker at each table got a copy of Maker Lab to take home, so that library is going to experience the joy of making awesome slime, too. Allison Davis from Make Media…
#alamw17 Jumping in as an ALA newbie
I just arrived in Atlanta, ready for my first ALA conference. I couldn’t make the ALSC Mini Institute, but there are so many panels, exhibits, and signings happening this weekend – how do you keep your head from spinning? I scheduled EVERYTHING I have even a bit of interest in onto my Google calendar. Depending on where I am, I can see at a glance what’s going on, what I can easily make, and plan ahead while still being spur of the moment. Kinda. Know what your must-attends are. For me, the Youth Media Awards are THE reason I’m here this weekend. Can’t make it? We’ll keep you updated, and you can follow along on the live webcast on Monday morning. There are several maker events that I want to attend, so they’ll get priority when I’m making decisions on what to attend. Take time to enjoy! Learning is fun…