Monday at ALA

Again, I would have loved to attend the program called "Research fuels the Author's Fire" with Carol Gorman and Jackie Briggs Martin. But 8:00 am? not possible.

I had to skip the program about Read between the Lions join forces with Libraries to improve literacy, too. Why?
Because it conflicted with the ALSC award ceremony and I had to see several friends, and authors I respect but don't actually know, be honored with awards.

The Geisel award for early reader (easy reader?) books had several honor books. Among them was one (Vulture View) by online friend, April Pulley Sayre. The winner of the award was the wild and crazy MO Willems. His winning book was "There is a Bird on Your Head," part of his funny elephant and Piggy series. When his name was announced, the whole Geisel committee stood up -- with birds on their heads.

As Mo came up to accept his award, he swiped one of those headbands with birds attached and proceeded to wear it for the rest of the day. After a few thank-yous, he launched into his speech -- In easy reader, short words with repetitive sentences. Every time one of the sentences moved naturally into a longer word, he would begin it. Then stop. Then attempt to find a short, easy reader word to replace it. The audience went from quiet giggling to uproarious laughter by the end of his speech.

Naturally I had to, later that afternoon, get into the line at Hyperion's booth to get him to sign two titles from that series. I flew home with my almost 6-year old grandchild and she read it to me during the flight. We had a little fight over who was going to get the title with the nice gold seal on it.
hmmm. when I unpacked, I discovered it was NOT in my carryon bag. The little rascal had managed to scoop up both books to take to her house.

In the afternoon I had intended to attend "Celebrating Children's Book Week: A How-to for creating Innovative Youth Programs." Sounds good, right. Well, it may have become good, but I bailed out after the second speaker told more about the history of the week.

Instead, I went across the hall and enjoyed the remainder of "Handmade Tales: Stories to make and Take." Again I was not able to get any of the handouts, but I learned how to manipulate a bandana into "Bandana Man!" (variation on Gingerbread Man) and other neat things to use in storytime.

The handouts for all the programs I've mentioned in these ALA messages have been uploaded onto the ALSC website and YOU can download copies for yourself. (I certainly will, since I missed getting most of the few handouts available at the Conference.)
-wendieO