Thursday, April 23, 2015

A VA, TN, NJ, RI, and MD state of mind

March and April 2015 have flung me up and down the Eastern Seaboard. A snapshot:

Virginia 3/13/15: Virginia State Reading Association Conference

I gave three talks and met many kind librarians. This was the teaser I set up outside my presentation room:



Virginia 3/20/15: Walker Upper Elementary School, Charlottesville

The school hamster tweeted me in advance for a carrot. I know better than to disobey a rodent:



(with librarian Rebecca Flowers, who co-founded Books on Bikes, a noble program in which she and others deliver—by bicycle—books to underprivileged neighborhoods)

Tennessee 3/30/15: Spring Hill Middle School, Spring Hill



John Travolta created my nametag:


(In reality, it was a scanning misread.)

Tennessee 3/30/15: Woodland Middle School, Brentwood

With my friend Lindsey Anderson, the librarian who brought me in and who is a champion of author visit planning:



Tennessee 3/31/15: Ruby Major Elementary, Hermitage


My second time at this sweet school.

Librarian Melanie Clark implemented a clever system for the signed books of authors who have visited the school. She makes a special packet and students are allowed to take it out for only one night.



That urgency probably results in the books being read more often—no time to stall!

New Jersey 4/2/15: Y.A.L.E. School, Cherry Hill

A welcome display echoes the wording of the flyer I send schools to promote my upcoming visit:



The school challenged its students to design a logo for anti-bullying:


Rhode Island 4/8/15: Narragansett High School (where I spoke to middle schoolers)

I loved seeing this hanging in the hallway:



Rhode Island 4/10/15: School Librarians of Rhode Island Conference

I was the only author representing my gender on the only author panel/event of the conference. I joined longtime friend Meghan McCarthy, Sarah Albee, Erin Dionne, Melissa Stewart, and Sarah Brannen. We were moderated by the tireless Susannah Richards.



Did you spot the goof?

Maryland 4/13/15: Ducketts Lane Elementary School, Elkridge

I was honored to meet legendary librarian Matthew Winner (who is aptly named). He didn’t sound taller than me when I did his popular podcast



Bookish views from around the school:




Maryland 4/13/15: Howard County Young Authors’ Contest, Ellicott City


Matthew is not the only winner I’ve mentioned here. Thank you to all my hosts!

I’ll be closing out the school year with stops in Maryland, Pennsylvania, Texas, New Jersey, Washington DC, and Virginia.

1 comment:

Matthew C. Winner said...

So glad we finally got to meet, Marc! I'm looking forward to many more connections in the future!