Kidlitosphere Conference 2008: Day One (Before Anything Happened)
Alternate Title: What I Did on My Autumnal Vacation
I think I may end up being the Kidlitosphere Conference attendee with the tardiest posts on that topic. Even today I’m not going to get to ’em. Truth be told, I have a manuscript due tomorrow and I don’t want to spend my evening blogging and cutting video. So, first and foremost, I have to give props to Portland, Oregon which can also be pronounced as "heaven". In quickie images, here’s what I saw:
I had a layover in Minneapolis on my way across the country and what did I see in the airport? A children’s bookstore! The Red Balloon at some point expanded into the airport side of things and I couldn’t be more pleased. As you can see.
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Once I was in Portland my lovely and delightful host Marian Creamer showed me the town. First stop? The Beverly Cleary statue garden featuring Ribsy, Henry, and Ramona.
And demanding even MORE I saw resident lady of the town, Portlandia. You do not mess with her.
Just to prove that I am actually in Portland when I am taking these, here is an electric car being powered up on the street. Note the three wheels.
Now, Mom, this next part’s for you. Marian, upon hearing that my mother recently got her Master’s in Poetry, took me to see the William Stafford stones by Lake Oswego. They’re lovely little things. Very peaceful.
We’re just about to leave when I hear the strangest bird call just above my head. Kind of like a nightingale if it started gargling in the key of F. So I look up and see this whopping, huge, gigantic, massive BALD EAGLE just ah-sitting in a tree.
Right next to him is a crow who is, to put it mildly, freaking out. He’s apparently determined to annoy the bejeezus out of the eagle and why the big guy just sits and takes it instead of turning and swallowing the little fellow down is anybody’s guess. So. I got to see a bald eagle. That. Is. Awesome. Full credit to fellow Newbery member Marian for taking me to it.
The day ended with a meet-up at Powell’s for the bloggers already in the city. This was the night of the first presidential debate so politics, as you can see, was in the air:
I leave you then with the Powell’s bike rack. Each rack contained a different bike related title.
I thought this one downright sly.
More tomorrow, I promise. I may even show other bloggers or some such nonsense. *sigh* Me slow.
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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 Kirkus, 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 BlueSky at: @fuse8.bsky.social
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Not to be all shallow, given that you were at Powells and in one of the coolest cities in the U.S….but your hair looks super fab with the headband. So cute!
Oh, thanks for this! I’ve been to Portland a couple of times but somehow I missed all of those things except for Powell’s, of course. Love the William Stafford stones.