Over the weekend, I attended the ALA Conference in Anaheim, CA. Over 50,000 librarians attended this event. In addition to all the attendees were thousands of exhibitors and presenters from across the nation. I was overwhelmed by all the goodies offered by vendors 'phishing' for new consumers. My favorite gifts were from DEMCO, a new carry bag and FDIC two small piggy banks that I gave to my children. I was impressed by Alan Sitomer, a Lynwood HS teacher and the 2007 Teacher of the year. He led a session on how to get reluctant male readers reading. I took away some of his strategies and a few titles that I cannot wait to check out…Hoopster, Homeboyz and Hip Hop High School. I was also impressed by the winners and nominees of the Pura Belpre Award. Yuyi Morales was presented with the Best Illustrator award for her work featured in Los Gatos Black on Halloween. When she accepted her award she stated that the pictures were not her own but yet those recreated by the ghosts that haunted her as a child. She sang a beautiful song about “La Llorona”. I was taken aback by Yuyi’s many talents and her artistry. Other highlights of the conference were meeting Nikki Giovanni one of my favorite poets and Kadir Nelson, "the Best" Illustrator out there.
