Logo of the Children's Literature Council of Southern California
Last Saturday I attended the annual Fall Gala of the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California, held this year at the Skirball Center in Los Angeles. After a delicious breakfast and conversation with librarians, teachers and other authors, we heard Caldecott Medal winner David Weisner’s inspirational talk about his books and the storytelling process. He told us that as a child he was always drawing. He shared pictures (saved by his mother) from when he was five and six years old–demonstrating that his art then was much like the art of any child. But as he continued to draw and practice he developed his skills and his own style. There were also excellent talks by this year’s award winners: Salina Yoon, for Excellence in a Picture Book; Joan Bransfield Graham, Myra Cohn Livingston Award; Susan Goldman Rubin, Notable Work of Nonfiction; Isabel Quintero, Peggy Miller Award for Young Adult Literature; and Maureen Palacios, Dorothy C. McKenzie Award. Thanks to all at the CLCSC committee members for all your hard work in putting on the gala! As always, it was a most enjoyable and rewarding morning.With authors Barbara Foster Bietz and Alexis O'Neill at the CLCSC Gala