Highlights from the American Library Association Annual Conference & Exhibition that just concluded in Chicago:
On Sunday at ALA on the Pop Top Stage at McCormick Convention Center, moderator Annisha Jeffries (Cleveland Public Library) asked questions of the creative teams behind two picture books: My Powerful Hair, a moving story about the significance of hair in Indigenous cultures and the lasting intergenerational wounds incurred at Indian Boarding Schools; and The Walk, an inspiring chronicle of a community joining together to vote on Election Day (both from Abrams). Pictured (l.-r.): Jeffries; Carole Lindstrom and Steph Littlebird (My Powerful Hair); E.B. Lewis and Winsome Bingham (The Walk).
The author and artist of From the Tops of Trees signed their book at the Lerner booth (l.-r.): artist Rachel Wada, publisher Adam Lerner, and author Kao Kalia Yang.
Travis Jonker (l.) interviewed two-time Newbery Medalist Kate DiCamillo for a live podcast of his "The Yarn" on Saturday. Topics ranged from the 20th Anniversary of DiCamillo's The Tale of Despereaux, to why she takes a notebook wherever she goes. She also read from her forthcoming novel, Ferris (Candlewick, March 2024).
Author Cynthia Weill described her process of collaborating with artisans from Oaxaca, Mexico, for Vamanos (Lee & Low) on Saturday at Chicago's Field Museum, where the figurines now reside in the permanent collection.
Author Nathan Hill (l.), in town for ALA to promote his new novel, Wellness (Knopf, Sept. 19), stopped by to see Javier Ramirez, co-owner of Exile in Bookville on Chicago's Michigan Avenue.
Authors and illustrators, including Nikki Grimes, Meg Medina, and James E. Ransome, posed for photos at Candlewick, Holiday House, Peachtree, and Pixel+Ink's opening reception held at the Comedy Bar at Chicago's Gino's East.