American Library Association’s Mid-Winter Conference in San Diego

On Saturday I attended the American Library Association’s Mid-Winter Conference in San Diego. The exhibition hall was filled with librarians, publishers, writers and illustrators enjoying the displays and (like me) loading themselves down with free ARCs, posters and publisher’s catalogs as well chatting with each other. Emphasis among the publishing houses seemed to be on YAs, but I particularly enjoyed the picture book displays. I was gratified to see my own book, Signed Abiah Rose, on display at the Random House booth.

It’s always nice to see familiar faces at such an event—Candace Ryan and Mina Javaherbin were there, Caroline Arnold was signing Polar Bear’s World, and Sherry Shahan was dressed in pretty purple 60s hippy attire in honor of her book Purple Haze, which she was there to sign. Arthur Levine and Dan Santat were chatting and checking out the booths. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. There was the occasional piece of cake or petit four or glass of champagne to energize those of us with tired feet or sore shoulders from toting heavy goodie bags.

It was a fun and enlightening day and a good chance to speak to librarians and publishers alike, and then of course Monday the ALA youth awards were announced! Here’s a few of the awards. I enjoyed both reading tweets and then (once I located the site) seeing the naming of the Caldecott and Newbery award winners just as they were announced! Very fun.


• The Newbery Award was won by Moon over Manifest, written by Clare Vanderpool.
• The Caldecott went to A Sick Day for Amos McGee, illustrated by Erin E. Stead, written by Philip C. Stead.
• The Geisel award was won by Bink and Gollie, written by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, illustrated by Tony Fucile.
• Ship Breaker, by Paolo Bacigalupi, took the Printz award.

You can find the rest of the awards listed here.