SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
SLJ Blog Network +
  • 100 Scope Notes
  • A Fuse #8 Production
  • Good Comics for Kids
  • Heavy Medal: A Mock Newbery Blog
  • Teen Librarian Toolbox
  • The Classroom Bookshelf
  • The Yarn
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • About/Contact
  • Fusenews
  • Reviews
  • Librarian Previews
  • Best Books
    • Top 100
    • Best Books of 2022
    • Best Books of 2021
    • Best Books of 2020
    • Best Books of 2019
    • Best Books of 2018
    • Best Books of 2017
    • Best Books of 2016
    • Best Books of 2015
    • Best Books of 2014
    • Best Books of 2013
  • Fuse 8 n’ Kate
  • Videos
  • Press Release Fun

January 17, 2008 by Betsy Bird

ALA Mid-Winter 2008 Recap: Extra Curricular Activities

January 17, 2008 by Betsy Bird   4 comments


There were many good things about the conference (particularly near the end) but if I were to single out a personal highlight it would have to be getting to meet Art Spiegelman and Francoise Mouly.

About a month ago Janna Morishima, the Director of Diamond Kids Group, wondered if I might be interested in helping conduct a Q&A with Mr. Spiegelman and Ms. Mouly during the conference in Philly.  Francoise, current Art Editor of The New Yorker, is the Editorial Director of TOON Books, a division of RAW Junior.  Mr. Spiegelman (creator of Maus, amongst other things) is the Series Advisor.

SCROLL TO KEEP READING THIS POST

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

When someone asks you to hang out with illustrious folk, you say yes, and you say thank you.

So here’s a delightful picture of me freaking out by freezing my face.  This happens when I get near people who win Pulitzers n’ are Directors n’ stuff.



I only look like I’m smiling.  Inside I’m thinking something along the lines of OMIGODOMIGODOMIGOD I’M IN-BETWEEN AMAZING PEOPLE!

Very nice famous people too.  Michele Gorman did the introduction.  She is the author of Getting Graphic! Comics for Kids and I think I need to get my hands on that book.  She spoke for 10 minutes or so and then introduced me.  This required me standing on a chair.  Here then is a lovely picture of me pitching to one side as Francoise and Art do everything in their power to keep me from careening towards an ignominious demise.


I love the bored woman in the background.

The room was packed but I was still worried that no one would ask any questions.  To keep the ball rolling I began with one.  If I had been worried that the two would fail to offer in-depth answers, I needn’t have.  Both were eloquent and excellent.  I recorded the whole thing for posterity which I shall post to my podcast when I get the chance.  Two other people asked questions, and the whole thing wrapped up after that.

I discussed with Mr. Spiegelman the fact that as of right now ALSC doesn’t have a proper award for graphic novels or illustrated books.  He replied that if such an award was named, it should be The Walt Kelly Medal.  I like that.  A day or so later someone else told me that it should be called The Spiegelman, but as he is not dead and is a rather self-deprecating fellow, I think "Kelly" will do just fine.

There were other parties as well, but this one will remain my favorite.

Filed under: Uncategorized

SHARE:

Read or Leave Comments

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Posts

March 2023

Announcing the Stinetinglers Winner! The Kettle's Dark Secret by Clara J.

by Betsy Bird

March 2023

Bologna Presentations: IBBY Doing the Good Work That Needs to Be Done, Worldwide

by Betsy Bird

February 2023

Sydney Taylor Book Blog Award Tour Interview: Featuring Mari Lowe of Aviva Vs. the Dybbuk!

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

The Top Ten Most Disappointing Edibles and Potables of Children's Literature

by Betsy Bird

January 2023

Announcing the 2023 Newbery/Caldecott/YMA Pre-Game Show!

by Betsy Bird

ADVERTISEMENT

SLJ Blog Network

100 Scope Notes

BLUE FLOATS AWAY Turns Two!

by Travis Jonker

A Fuse #8 Production

Faced with a Parenting Dilemma? Write a Book About It! Jacob Grant Comes By to Talk About NO FAIR

by Betsy Bird

Good Comics for Kids

Review: Swim Team

by Esther Keller

Heavy Medal

March suggestions: early Mock Newbery possibilities

by Emily Mroczek-Bayci

Teen Librarian Toolbox

Post-It Note Reviews: Wish granters, brotherly mischief, a high-stakes scavenger hunt, and more!

by Amanda MacGregor

The Classroom Bookshelf

The Classroom Bookshelf is Moving

by Erika Thulin Dawes

The Yarn

Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey Try Something New

by Travis Jonker

ADVERTISEMENT

Related Articles on SLJ

The hOle Story: Kids’ Books Come to Life on a Giant Scale at a New Kansas City Venue

Regrowth and Resilience: Debut Author Anna Orentstein-Cardona Scores an SLJ Star with 'The Tree of Hope'

Making a Mark on Musical History: Flack, Franklin, and Beach | Biography Spotlight

Changing the Narrative | The Year in SLJ Covers

2 World War II Memoirs for Middle Grade & YA Readers

About Betsy Bird

Betsy Bird is currently the Collection Development Manager of the Evanston Public Library system and a former Materials Specialist for New York Public Library. She has served on Newbery, written for Horn Book, and has done other lovely little things that she'd love to tell you about but that she's sure you'd find more interesting to hear of in person. Her opinions are her own and do not reflect those of EPL, SLJ, or any of the other acronyms you might be able to name. Follow her on Twitter: @fuseeight.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. John Shableski says

    January 17, 2008 at 9:50 am

    Betsy, you did a fantastic job. It was a great evening and I am really glad that Francoise and Art chose to launch TOON Books to an audience filled with the best librarians on the planet.

  2. UMS says

    January 17, 2008 at 7:17 pm

    How do you find out about these functions? This would have been interesting to attend. By the way, I believe the “bored woman” is Beth Yoke, Executive Director of YALSA.

  3. Fuse #8 says

    January 18, 2008 at 4:29 am

    Ha! I knew that would happen. Sorry, Beth. This is what I get for not knowing anything about YALSA. In this particular case I wanted to mention this event on my blog, but I wasn’t sure the hosts would want me to. As it turned out, I guess it was a good thing that I didn’t. The place was packed. The event was mentioned on a Diamond Books newsletter that is sent out every other week. That’s where some people heard about it, anyway.

  4. Tarie says

    January 21, 2008 at 8:51 pm

    You look beautiful, Betsy!!! 😀

ADVERTISEMENT

Archives

  • External Links

    • A Fuse #8 Production Reviews
  • Follow This Blog

    Enter your email address below to receive notifications of new blog posts by email.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    This coverage is free for all visitors. Your support makes this possible.

    Primary Sidebar

    • News & Features
    • Reviews+
    • Technology
    • School Libraries
    • Public Libraries
    • Age Level
    • Ideas
    • Blogs
    • Classroom
    • Diversity
    • People
    • Job Zone

    Reviews+

    • Book Lists
    • Best Books
    • Media
    • Reference
    • Series Made Simple
    • Tech
    • Review for SLJ
    • Review Submissions

    SLJ Blog Network

    • 100 Scope Notes
    • A Fuse #8 Production
    • Good Comics for Kids
    • Heavy Medal
    • Neverending Search
    • Teen Librarian Toolbox
    • The Classroom Bookshelf
    • The Yarn

    Resources

    • 2022 Youth Media Awards
    • The Newbery at 100: SLJ Celebrates the 100th Anniversary of the Award
    • Special Report | School Libraries 2021
    • Summer Reading 2021
    • Series Made Simple Spring 2021
    • SLJ Diverse Books Survey
    • Summer Programming Survey
    • Research
    • White Papers / Case Studies
    • School Librarian of the Year
    • Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards
    • Librarian/Teacher Collaboration Award

    Events & PD

    • In-Person Events
    • Online Courses
    • Virtual Events
    • Webcasts
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise
    • Subscribe
    • Media Inquiries
    • Newsletter Sign Up
    • Content Submissions
    • Data Privacy
    • Terms of Use
    • Terms of Sale
    • FAQs
    • Diversity Policy
    • Careers at MSI


    COPYRIGHT © 2023


    COPYRIGHT © 2023