Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival

So I just got back from the Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg, MS. This was my third trip to this CBF and it was as expected: AMAZING!!

This was the 50th anniversary of the Children's Book Festival and the folks who put this together sure know how to celebrate. There were countless published authors and illustrators there to talk about their experiences in creating children's books and why they do what they do.

Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, Pat Mora, Kwame Alexander.

Shall I keep going?

Okay, I will.

Kate DiCamillo, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Bryan Collier, Wendell and Florence Minor.

The list goes on and on.

Classes by other librarians and people in the book world giving us great book recommendations, advice on storytelling, ideas to incorporate into story time. Plus, just the networking and getting to hang out and share thoughts with like-minded people is always so exciting.

Besides the great speakers and classes, the University of Southern Mississippi also houses the deGrummond Collection, one of the country's most extensive collections of children's books, original manuscripts, and illustrations. I am always amazed that this incredible collection exists, all because one woman started calling authors and asking for the papers they were throwing away.

If you are a librarian or an educator or just a general children's book lover, you should look into the Kaigler Book Fest. It is beyond inspiring and truly does affirm that I have found where I belong: in the world of children's books.

Kate DiCamillo- What a joy to hear her story and get to chat about Walt Disney World! 

New Year by Rich Lo

A young boy is anxious as he begins a new school, having just moved with his family from Hong Kong to Los Angeles. He doesn't understand his new teacher or classmates, and the only other Chinese student is embarrassed to talk to him in Chinese. When his teacher gives the class a new assignment, our young friend is able to use his artwork to show his classmates a piece of his family and his heritage.

New Year is a sweet tale of a young boy learning to love his heritage while embracing a new culture. With brilliant illustrations portraying the boy's family, memories, and new life, this book is a great way to help kids adjust to a big move, or just give children an excellent glimpse into a new culture. 

Snow White by Matt Phelan

In my first year as a librarian, I heard a parent tell their kid that they couldn't check out comic books anymore because the kid needed to start reading "real books." Fortunately, (or maybe unfortunately), this parent couldn't see my face.

Listen. If your kid wants to read comics, please do not tell them to read a "real book." Comics and graphic novels are real books. They are a unique form of storytelling that has great value in our libraries, schools, and homes. If your kid wants to read them, encourage that! Why would anyone discourage reading of any kind??

That said, I just read a really great new graphic novel that is a retelling of a classic fairy tale we all know and love. Snow White by Matt Phelan is set in 1920s and 30s New York City. With an innocent daughter of a Wall Street tycoon, a stepmother who was once considered "Broadway royalty", and a group of seven (of course!) street orphans, this book is a completely fresh twist on an old favorite. Phelan's use of black and white with slight touches of color brings the perfect detail to his illustrations. While the story is familiar, the new setting and time period allow for some unexpected twists and a very satisfying ending.

I highly recommend this to any graphic novel fans and definitely to anyone who, like me, loves a good reimagining of a classic fairy tale!