OGE MORA: Keynote Speaker at the CLCSC 2021 Virtual Fall Gala

Oge Mora, Caldecott Winner for Thank You Omu

In an ordinary year, the Children’s Literature Council of Southern California would be celebrating children’s books at their annual Fall Gala, with delicious food, a keynote speaker, and awards to authors, illustrators, and people with distinguished service in the field of children’s literature. But this year, as in the fall of 2020, the Fall Gala was virtual, and was held on Saturday, November 13. While not as much fun as being there in person, it was a pleasure to attend virtually.

The featured speaker was children’s book author/illustrator Oge Mora (pronounced oh-gay), who gave an inspirational talk about the collage technique she uses to illustrate her books. Using examples from her Caldecott winning book Thank You Omu and other titles, she showed how she gets her ideas, selects her papers--sometimes creating them herself--and the secret of the tiny bits of paper that may look like scraps but can turn out to be the key to an illustration. Here are a few samples of slides she used in her talk.
 After Oge Mora’s presentation, this year’s honorees of the CLCSC awards were announced: Masha D’yans, Cindi M. Alvitre and Carly Lake, Keith Calabrese, Ernesto Cisneros, Jordan Ifueko and Alana Weisberg. Carly Lake and Jordan Ifueko could not attend, but each of the others gave a thoughtful and gracious acceptance speech. The final part of the program was a panel discussion with Oge Mora and the award winners. 

Panel Discussion: Alethea Allarey, Moderator; Oge Mora, Keith Calabrese, Alana Weisberg, Ernesto Cisneros

Congratulations to the winners, and to the 2021 Fall Gala Committee and Awards Committee for a terrific program. Many thanks to CLCSC President Jennifer Driscoll for chairing the event.

Jennifer Driscoll, CLCSC President

For more about the program and winners please go to the CLCSC website: www.childrensliteraturecouncil.org .