With over 40 years of singing and entertaining kids and families, Jim Gill is just as energetic as ever. His humorous songwriting blended with interactive play was not only revolutionary for the genre, but has had staying power with librarians, educators, and caregivers for generations. I was able to catch up with Jim at Oak Creek Library last month, where he was leading a teaching workshop during the day for librarians, and a family concert in the neighboring park that evening.
Category: Author Spotlight
Attending the 2025 National Book Festival
On Saturday, September 6th, thousands of Book Lovers from across our nation’s capital lined up to hear from their favorite authors at the 25th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival. While some lined up for author book signings, others were excited to hear from what these artists had to say about their publications and the creation process. I was lucky enough to attend this year’s festival and below are the highlights of my experience!
Couples Who Collaborate: Insights from Authors
Children and Libraries is the vibrant, now fully-digital journal of ALSC and for years has been chock full of interesting best practices pieces, research into literacy and library initiatives, reflections on book awards, and interviews with authors and practitioners, but it’s also featured a fun little recurring segment called “Couples Who Collaborate” that offers a chance for librarians–in school or public settings–to talk about collaboration with their readers.
Bryan Collier’s Lecture “Dreamwalker” Is Now Available for Viewing
The 2023 Children’s Literature Lecture Award featuring Bryan Collier has been posted to the ALSC website and is now available for viewing by members. Collier’s lecture entitled “Dreamwalker” is an insightful and fascinating presentation of how an illustrator’s skill creates picture books that can be read visually and with words. It was AH-MAZING! As an illustrator and author Collier offers firsthand details about creating picture books that will enrich those of us who evaluate them, use them, and love them.
Flowers for Beverly Cleary
I know every state has their claims to fame–people or events that bring about pride of place and cause for celebration. When you don’t live in California or New York those local celebrities or occurrences are just a little less known to the rest of America. While every resident thinks their person/place/thing is the best, I have to say being a children’s librarian in Beverly Cleary’s city really is something to cheer about. Considered a local heroine, Beverly Cleary (April 12, 1916 – March 25, 2021) was born in McMinnville and lived in rural Yamhill before moving to Portland. Most of her books are set in Northeast Portland where she was raised, and the truly special thing about her and her work was that she was a champion of children as they really exist.
34th Annual Virginia Hamilton Conference
Last week, I attended the 34th Annual Virginia Hamilton Conference at Kent State University, focusing on multicultural literature for children and young adults. Living in Northeast Ohio, I have attended several times in the past; however, this year I am a newly minted member of the Conference’s Advisory Board and got to see a bit “behind the curtain” of the event as well. In addition, this year was unusual. The typical April date was changed to October to be combined with a Literacy Conference Kent State was hosting this year, and that content was also included in breakdown sessions. The Conference began Thursday evening with dinner, the Arnold Adoff Poetry Awards, and one of the Conference’s three keynote speakers, poet Marilyn Nelson. Present to pick up their poetry awards, and to read excerpts from their work, were winner Nikki Grimes (One Last Word) and honor recipients Hope Anita Smith (My Daddy…
How Author Visits Helped Heal Our Community
This past November, tragedy struck my elementary school community when one of our fifth grade students died. Within hours of her passing, reporters and cameramen showed up on school grounds, filming our children on the playground and through the windows of the cafeteria, placing blame for her death on bullying at our school. In all the chaos, we didn’t have time to process anything. There really aren’t words to describe how difficult this experience was for us. We were grieving – not only for our student, but also for our community. After an emotional staff meeting, I realized that all of us needed something positive to rally our community around. Since we are located in a suburb of Denver, and ALA’s Midwinter Conference was taking place here in February, I began contacting authors in hopes of coordinating school visits. First, I reached out to Marley Dias’s agent with Scholastic. Scholastic…
An Interview with Deborah Hopkinson
Author Deborah Hopkinson shares her process of writing Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen and the role children’s librarians play in supporting the dreams of their young patrons. What motivated you to write a book about Jane Austen for young readers? I’ve been an Austen fan for a long time. I was perhaps in sixth grade when I first discovered her books. I still have a few old battered paperbacks from those days. And I once took my daughter on a “literary pilgrimage” in England. And yes, we went to Bath. I don’t anticipate young readers to rush out and devour Pride and Prejudice, of course. But I think it’s wonderful to give readers the chance to discover accomplished women of the past from all cultures. And Austen offers a model for an ordinary person determined to follow her own path, which seems especially relevant in our celebrity-focused culture. What do you…