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July 15, 2009 by Travis Jonker

ALA Annual 2009: A Day in the Life (Part II)

July 15, 2009 by Travis Jonker   7 comments

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Part II, in which the pictures get more sparse.

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4:00 p.m. – Head to Feiwel & Friends gathering downtown. Walking in, I had one of those “I’m not sure what to expect” moments. Thankfully, there were a bunch of great people in the house.

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4:23 -Hey, it’s Susan from Wizard’s Wireless and now PBS Booklights. You ever have it where you sort of know someone, you’re Facebook friends with them, but you’ve never really met? That’s how it was with Susan and I. Great to meet her. Absolutely enthusiastic about all things children’s lit.

4:30 – Newbery discussion. The top two books talked about? The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate and When You Reach Me. Is it safe to guarantee hardware for both of these titles at this early date? I’m gonna go ahead and do it.

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4:46 -Author (and Planet Esme blogger) Esmé Raji Codell arrives with Belpre award-winning illustrator Yuyi Morales. The meet and greets just don’t stop. Esmé was great to talk to and as nice as could be. We chatted about her children’s lit salon, which is completely great.

5:00 – Okay, I have somewhere to be soon. I told myself I would leave here by five. Enjoying things too much. I’ll stay.

5:10 – Catch up again with Mighty Casey Illustrator Matthew Cordell. Still no cupcakes, but I’m not going to hold it against the man. His latest book Trouble Gum was on display at the gathering, along with this oh-so-appropriate bit of advertising:

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That’s a box of trouble gum y’all.

5:20 – I meet author/illustrator Karen Romano Young, who has an illustrated novel coming out in 2010 called Doodlebug. Fans of the Amelia’s Notebook series and Ellie McDoodle, take notice.

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5:30 – Alright, I’ve really got to go. I say a couple goodbyes and catch a cab back to the hotel to get spruced up for the next event – Random House dinner.

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6:30 – Invited by friends/mentors/librarians/Bookends bloggers Lynn and Cindy (thanks guys!), my wife and I have to chance to hobnob over dinner with some children’s lit heavyweights.

6:45 – Meet Lane Smith. He shows me the Michigan hand signal (which he picked up from Jon Scieszka). I’m enjoying this.

6:50 – Dang, there’s Judy Blume. Am I really here right now?

6:55 – Dinner begins. I’m at the table with Candace Fleming, whom I met earlier in the day. Lesson learned: it pays to introduce yourself. F.Y.I. – Candace is a wonderful person to have sitting at your dinner table. Fun was had.

7:00 – My wife is sitting at a table with Deborah Hopkinson, author of the *Best New Book* Abe Lincoln Crosses a Creek. I find myself wishing I had brought my hand-made stovepipe hat.

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7:30 – I’m challenged to recite the Gettysburg Address. I don’t do so good.

8:00 – I learn from Candace Fleming that there were five versions of the Gettysburg Address. I don’t feel quite as bad now.

8:10 – The food is good. A little salmon, a little beef.

9:00 – Almost time to go. Not sure how it happened, but before I know it, my wife and I are talking to Judy Blume. Dang. My summer/aught nine has been made.

10:00 – Back at the hotel. Realizing I didn’t touch the computer all day, yet carried it for hours. Make a mental note to not do that again.

11:00 – Time to go to sleep. I have another 8:00 a.m. session in the morning (AASL Top 25 Websites). An outstanding day.

ALA Annual 2009 – a rousing success. Midwinter is in Boston, eh? I wonder how cheaply I can swing that trip.

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About Travis Jonker

Travis Jonker is an elementary school librarian in Michigan. He writes reviews (and the occasional article or two) for School Library Journal and is a member of the 2014 Caldecott committee. You can email Travis at scopenotes@gmail.com, or follow him on Twitter: @100scopenotes.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. BookMoot says

    July 15, 2009 at 4:21 am

    What an amazing account. You must have really felt like you were in school librarian heaven. Susan and Esmé are lovely people.
    Thank you for sharing. It is almost like … I was there.

  2. Scope Notes says

    July 15, 2009 at 11:26 am

    Well then mission accomplished. It was a great time.

  3. Charlotte says

    July 15, 2009 at 6:24 pm

    Sounds like a great time….Boston here I come!

  4. Wizards Wireless says

    July 16, 2009 at 8:28 pm

    Great reading your post… and it was wonderful to meet you!

  5. Scope Notes says

    July 17, 2009 at 9:50 am

    Likewise. Hopefully we’ll cross paths again in the future.

  6. Boni Ashburn says

    July 19, 2009 at 7:39 pm

    What a great post- Deborah Hopkinson and Esme Codell and Candace Fleming and Judy Blume AND Lane Smith, all on the same day?!

    Sigh. I want your job.

    Ooh, and what’s the Michigan hand signal?? I hope it doesn’t leave out the UP like that whole “mitten” fiasco…

    🙂

  7. Madigan says

    July 22, 2009 at 8:09 pm

    Wow! Sounds phenomenal. Thanks for the blow-by-blow account. Color me jealous…

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