Imogene's Antlers by David Small

Imogene's Antlers is my all time favorite picture book! I love love loved this book as a kid. I can remember checking it out of the Helen Keller Public Library over and over and over. It never got old and still doesn't!

Imogene wakes up on a Thursday morning to find she has grown antlers overnight. Her family, and even the school principal, don't know what to make of it! They bring in a doctor, who finds nothing wrong. They bring in a milliner to try to hide the antlers, but nothing helps. But while her family tries to change the situation, Imogene embraces her new look. With the help of a few friends, she even learns to put her antlers to good use. 

You can read into this story and find messages of being yourself and embracing the things that make you different, but as a kid I just loved the silliness of it all. I think maybe that's what makes this story so brilliant and makes it stand the test of time. 

David Small is the author and illustrator of this amazing little book. He has many collaborations with his wife, Sarah Stewart, such as The Library and The Gardener, for which he earned his first Caldecott Honor in 1997. He is also the winner of the 2001 Caldecott Medal for So You Want To Be President?, written by Judith St. George, and a 2013 Caldecott Honor for One Cool Friend, written by Toni Buzzeo.

In 2013, I had the honor of meeting David Small at ALA in Chicago. Not only did I get a copy of One Cool Friend signed by him and Toni Buzzeo, but I also took with me a copy of Imogene's Antlers. But not just any copy of Imogene's Antlers. I had recently dropped in on the Helen Keller Public Library and purchased the same old copy that I had checked out so many times as a kid. As soon as I handed it to him, he started flipping through it and quietly said "Where did you get this?" It was pretty obvious that this was an old book. At this point, the people around us had all turned to see what was happening. I explained that it was my favorite as a kid and that I'd bought this copy off my hometown library. He told me this was a first edition and even pointed out a few differences from the way they print them now. He drew an antler with a sign hanging from it. In the sign, he wrote "For Callie Ann" and then signed it. I got a picture taken with him and as I left I said thank you and he put his hand on my shoulder and said "No. Thank you."

I can't say for certain, but I like to believe that moment was just as meaningful for David Small as it was for me. I will definitely never forget it. I will cherish this book and this memory forever. 

So thank you, David Small. For making little Callie Ann love stories. And for making grown-up Callie Ann love passing that love on to kids today. 

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. 

GHOST by Jason Reynolds

Y'all. This book.

This book got me.

This story is about running. Who you run for. And who you run from.

Castle Cranshaw (who prefers to be called "Ghost") is a kid from the wrong neighborhood, with a love of sunflower seeds and basketball, and a habit of getting into "altercations" until he stumbles upon a track practice and decides to step into a race. Coach takes note of Ghost's natural talent of running and offers him a spot on the team.

Listen. This book is incredible and everyone needs to read it. Sure, it seems like a predictable story. You know Coach is gonna be great and you know Ghost is going to be challenged by being a part of a team. You even know that somehow he's going to get caught in his latest "altercation". But you don't know how!

Ah! I loved this book so much! I can't even pick a favorite part because it's just that good.  And the best part: It's the first of a series!!! I cannot wait for more!

EVERYONE READ THIS BOOK!

The Girl Who Drank The Moon by Kelly Barnhill

I was really excited to read The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill. Last month, Julie Danielson of Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast visited the NPL Children's Librarians to talk about her favorite books of 2016 and this book was high on her list. And it did not disappoint!

A magical tale of a kind witch, a tiny dragon, a poetic monster, and a young, but powerfully magical girl. These aren't even all of the key players in this story. Though the story is told from many voices, the chapters flow together seamlessly, and just how these voices will converge remains unpredictable until the end.

I was hooked from the get-go and couldn't put this book down. It had little hints of Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones, which is one of my favorites. I loved the innocence of Fyrian, the Perfectly Tiny Dragon, who never seems to age. I loved the wisdom of Glerk, the Bog Monster, who is truly no monster at all. I loved the goodness of Antain, the hesitant boy who grows into an honorable man on a mission. And the love of the old witch, Xan, and the memories that hold them all together.

This book is a must read for lovers of fantasy and magic.