Recently I had occasion to attend two events for children’s librarians. In September, I spent a morning at the main branch of the Brooklyn Public Library for a Day of Dialog, sponsored by School Library Journal.

A variety of writers spoke about their newest releases including NYSL member author Emma Otheguy, who just published her first book, a bilingual picture book biography, Martí’s Song for Freedom/Marti y sus versos  por la libertad, about the Cuban poet José Martí.

A panel discussion of middle grade authors featured a range of works from serious subjects to graphic novels about Greek gods.

We got to hear from both newer and seasoned YA authors, including Adam Silvera, Deborah Heiligman, and Erica L. Sanchez.

A brief panel discussion among the editors at SLJ, including NYSL member Mahnaz Dar, revealed how the monthly magazine comes together, including the "starring" of titles.

The morning event ended with a closing keynote from YA fantasy author Daniel José Older, whose wild anecdotes from his previous life as a paramedic had the entire room in stitches.

A few weeks later, an invitation from the Horn Book inspired a weekend visit to Boston. My first stop was actually the Boston Athenaeum, another membership library with which we have a reciprocal agreement. Situated at 10 ½ Beacon Street, it as close to Boston Common as the NYSL is to Central Park.

The Athenaeum itself is much larger than the NYSL, and Children’s Librarian Dani Crickman kindly took me on a thorough tour of their vast space.

While the Athenaeum’s children’s library is smaller than ours, it offers a unique view, particularly appropriate in October!

An evening ceremony honoring the recipients of the Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards was held at Simmons College, a short T ride away from downtown. NYSL’s own Richard Peck was among those who delivered gracious acceptance speeches. His middle grade novel The Best Man received an honor award in the fiction category.

A symposium on Saturday focused upon the topic of resistance in children’s books. We enjoyed several panel discussions amongst the authors, illustrators, and editors of the award-winning books, including an engaging presentation given by Melissa Sweet about Some Writer!, her exquisitely illustrated biography of E.B. White. I had a chance to speak to her and am happy to report that she will be presenting at the Library in January.

My favorite conversation was entitled The Lion and The Cub, and it featured fiction winner Angie Thomas, debut author of The Hate U Give, sharing the stage with fiction honor recipient Richard Peck.

Concluding the symposium, a variety of participants including poet Nikki Grimes shared brief pieces about resistance. Some were poems, some were songs, all were moving. I was most impressed with the presence of Ashley Bryan, the 94-year-old author and illustrator, who led us in poetry readings. His book, Freedom Over Me, won the 2017 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for best picture book.

Over a period of three weeks, these two literary events made the days between them fly by. And all of the children’s librarians have more functions to attend throughout this month. We look forward to returning to the Library with the best and brightest books and great ideas for future author events. Stay tuned for further updates!