Hi everyone,
It was a good conference. Mary Jo Fresch and I presented on making classroom “recording stars” of young students to help them become more aware of the sounds they hear and their connections with the words they see. More than 100 people came to our session so we were pleased.
That night at least that many came to the Poetry Olio and nearly everyone stayed throughout the 7:30 – 10:00 event. Sunday morning Mary Jo and I made a second, much shorter presentation (at Shell Education).
One of the nicest benefits of these conferences is the chance to see old friends. At such a large conference you can’t see everyone you want to but you never know when you’ll bump into a pal.
Kent Brown and I were asked to leave a small cafe (with limited table space) for lingering too long over our coffees so I now have a distinction that few people can claim. Only moments before that our waitress went on and on to Kent about how much she loves Highlights Magazine and raised her children on it.
On the exhibit hall floor I happened to see Pat Brisson, one of my favorite people and Christopher Award winning picture book author. While we stood in an aisle and visited, Kenn Nesbitt (current U.S. Children’s Poet Laureate) walked up to say hello. Soon Steve Swinburne showed up. You may know Steve through his great books about nature.
It will take a while to send notes to all the people on my list but it will be a pleasant task. Oh yes, on the plane trip going I finished Ruth Culham’s new book, THE WRITING THIEF. It’s wonderful. Teachers and authors will all enjoy the book and learn from it. On the return flight I read J.B. Cheaney’s newest YA novel, SOMEBODY ON THIS BUS IS GOING TO BE FAMOUS. I loved it and heartily recommend it to one and all.
Today I’m trying to remember what I was doing before we left. By tomorrow I hope to be back in harness.
David
Children's Author David L. Harrison's Blog 