Newbery

American Library Association Conference, Washington D.C. – June 25-28, 2010

by Dianne on July 14, 2010

6-28-10 The ABC-Clio Booth

Friends:

From June 25 through June 28, 2010, I attended the American Library Association conference in our nation’s capitol, Washington, D.C. Unfortunately, I did not see a lot of the District this time because I was so busy with the conference. But here is a picture of the Capitol building I took from a cab! LOL

6-28-10 The Capitol Building

I also managed to snap a shot of the Washington Monument. Fortunately, I have been to Washington, DC before and have been to many of the museums. It’s a great city to visit.

6-28-10 The Washington Monument

My first day to sign books was Saturday, June 26. I had a lunch and panel to attend first. When I went to the ABC-Clio Libraries Unlimited booth, there were people waiting for me to sign their books. Very cool. :) I signed copies of my brand new book, Stories on Board: Creating Board Games from Favorite Tales.

6-26-10 Signing books at ABC-Clio Libraries Unlimited

Here I am with my dynamic team of women from ABC-Clio!

6-26-10 Dianne de Las Casas with the Libraries Unlimited team (L-R) Shannon Hysell, Kristina Sheppard & Debby LaBoon

Later that evening, I was invited to a yacht cruise on the Potomac River by my friend, Tammy DiBartolo from Rapides Parish Library.

6-26-10 Tammy DiBartolo & Dianne de Las Casas on the Playaway Potomac yacht cruise

The cruise was sponsored by Playaway. The yacht was named, “Celebrity.” Not only was it fun but the sights were also beautiful. The city was gorgeous from the vantage point of the river.

6-26-10 The Celebrity Yacht on the Potomac

On Sunday, June 27, 2010, I signed books again at the ABC-Clio booth. I also had the great fortune of meeting Teresa Taylor who is at a DOD (Department of Defense) school in Italy. Teresa wants me to visit her school in Italy! Oh yeah! Here I am with Teresa and her friends. What great people! (Thank you to Donald, Teresa’s husband, for taking the picture!)

6-27-10 Gorgeous Gals of ALA - (L-R) Dianne, Teresa, Susan & BJ

On Sunday night, it was the night of the Newbery/Caldecott Award Banquet. What an event! There were lots of authors, publishers, editors, librarians, and book lovers. The banquet was packed. I rode to the affair with my lovely roommate, children’s book author & illustrator, Katie Davis and Brian & Beth Jackson. I visited Beth’s school in Athens, Georgia in April. Look at us!

6-27-10 At the Caldecott-Newbery Banquet (L-R) - Beth Jackson, Brian Jackson, Dianne de Las Casas & Katie Davis

Here I am with Michelle Knudsen, the author of Library Lion and many other books. Michelle and I presented at the Savannah Children’s Book Festival together a couple of years ago. She is so pretty!

6-27-10 Dianne de Las Casas & Michelle Knudsen (Author of Library Lion)

The ceremony was great. I really enjoyed the speeches, especially the one by Jerry Pinkney who won the Caldecott Medal for his book, The Lion and the Mouse. Rebecca Stead won the Newbery for her book, When You Reach Me. Look at this gorgeous program Jerry Pinkney designed! It’s really spectacular!

6-27-10 The Caldecott-Newbery program designed by Caldecott Winner, Jerry Pinkney

Here I am with my friend, Allison Roberts, who is a school librarian in Tennessee. I love see all my friends glammed up!

6-27-10 Allison Roberts from Tennessee & Dianne de Las Casas

This gentleman is Jim Averbeck, Author of In a Blue Room. He’s sweet and fun to be around, not to mention he’s nice to look at. ;)

6-27-10 Dianne de Las Casas & Children's Book Author Jim Averbeck

On my last day in Washington, D.C., I attended the International Association of School Librarians Luncheon. The speaker was none other than Sharon Coatney, my wonderful editor at Libraries Unlimited. Sharon spoke about the many faces of school librarian leadership.

6-28-10 Sharon Coatney (my editor at ABC-Clio Libraries Unlimited) speaks at the International Association of School Librarians luncheon

ALA was a great conference and I made so many wonderful connections. I look forward to the next conference, which will be in… NEW ORLEANS! Woo hoo! I can’t wait!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

{ 2 comments }

ALA Chicago – Sunday, July 12, 2009

by Dianne on July 13, 2009

7-12-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Neil Gaiman, Winner of the 2009 Newbery Medal for The Graveyard Book

7-12-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Neil Gaiman, Winner of the 2009 Newbery Medal for The Graveyard Book

Friends:

What a day! I signed books at the ABC-Clio Libraries Unlimited booth early today. I discovered that I left my camera’s SD card in my laptop at the hotel. Ugh. I took pictures with my phone but had trouble emailing them to myself. So all the pictures I have are from tonight’s Newbery Caldecott banquet.

After signing, I roamed the exhibit floor and ran into Carmen Agra Deedy, who was signing Martina the Beautiful Cockroach at the Children’s Plus booth. She is such a doll. I love her. Who doesn’t?!!!!

Afterwards, I met up with Juliet Bond, Kelly Milner Halls, and Stephanie Reynolds. I had a bite to eat and saw my buddy, MJ Diem for a few brief minutes. Love you, MJ!

Juliet and I wandered the exhibit hall some more when I decided to get some fudge. Lo and behold, I run into my friend, Vickie Beene Beavers, who was standing right behind me in line. The funny thing is we were both laughing so loud at a comment made by a nearby speaker. I turned around to see who was laughing as loud as me and it was Vickie! Her friend, Veronica, was with her and the three of us had some great laughs.

Juliet and I went back to my room and changed for the Newbery Caldecott banquet. What an event! Juliet and I sat at a table with some wonderful librarians. I even met a librarian from the Army Libraries of Europe! The food was great, a prelude to a great evening ahead.

The first awards were to the Caldecott Honor winners – Marla Frazee for A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever, Uri Shulevitz for How I Learned Geography, and Melissa Sweet for A River of Words: The Story of William Carlos Williams. Then came the big Caldecott award. It went to Beth Krommes for The House in the Night, a quiet and sweet bedtime book written by Susan Marie Swanson. Beth Krommes is soft-spoken and elegant woman. She was gracious enough to pull out her Caldecott medal and let me and some other authors hold it!! Just spectacular!

7-12-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Beth Krommes

7-12-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Beth Krommes

Then it was time for the Newbery. First the honors were awarded to Kathi Appelt for The Underneath, Ingrid Law for Savvy, Margarita Engle for The Surrender Tree, and Jacqueline Woodson for After Tupac & D Foster.

7-12-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Jacqueline Woodson

7-12-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Jacqueline Woodson

Then it was gold medal time… Ok, so I have a crush on Neil Gaiman now. He is so funny and a true wordsmith. His speech was humorous, touching, and inspiring. He said that “children’s fiction is the most important writing of all.” I was so thrilled to be a part of this night because I absolutely loved The Graveyard Book. Meeting Neil Gaiman was the icing on the cake. And yes, his arm was around me!! LOL

Then Ashley Bryan, who is an amazing force on stage, received the Laura Ingalls Wilder award. With audience participation, call and response, and poetry, he enthralled the crowd with his speech. Afterwards, I told him how much I enjoyed his storytelling delivery. He said to me, “I don’t like to let words lie flat on the page. Let them fly!”

7-12-09 Ashley Bryan and Dianne de Las Casas

7-12-09 Ashley Bryan and Dianne de Las Casas

Again, I ran into my friend, Yuyi Morales, the Pura Belpre illustrator winner for her book, Just in Case. Yuyi is the most gorgeous, sweet and sophisticated woman you will meet. We both presented at the San Benito Literary conference last year and I was privileged to spend time with her. What a woman!

7-12-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Yuyi Morales - look at Yuyi's dress and shoes! Wow!

7-12-09 Dianne de Las Casas & Yuyi Morales - look at Yuyi's dress and shoes! Wow!

It was a fabulous day – I wish I could have posted more pictures! I am flying out in the afternoon on Monday. ALA was marvelous but I am ready to be home for a little while!

Until next time…

Warmly, Dianne

{ 1 comment }