Saturday morning, after a bit of driveway shoveling and dropping off my daughter for a broomball tournament, I went to Children’s Literature Network‘s annual Books for Breakfast event. Twenty-five authors and illustrators give a two-minute peek each into their current work to an audience of 200+ teachers, media specialists, etc. And me. I wasn’t presenting this year, but I love hearing everyone’s updates and seeing so many kidlit friends in one place. Plus there’s breakfast, door prizes, lists of great books to take home, and books right there to buy. What could be better?
Here are a few pictures. Hover and/or click to read the captions and see a few examples of who was there. Lots of rock stars in the Minnesota/Wisconsin kidlit and education worlds. And this is only a sampling. It’s such a great event–a highlight of my winter each year.
Authors and illustrators…
Vicki Palmquist, co-founder (with husband Steve) of Children’s Literature Network
Derek Anderson, self-proclaimed liar and illustrator of Jane Yolen’s Waking Dragons (a Minnesota Book Award Finalist this year)
Door prizes!
Connie Van Hoven with The Twelve Days of Christmas in Minnesota reminds us how few shopping days there are until Christmas:>)
Lynne Jonell signs Hamster Magic for my niece, Lily.
Paul Von Drasek is Book Trade Sales Manager at Capstone Books, and Lisa Von Drasek is the new Curator of the renowned Kerlan Collection at the U of Minnesota. They just moved here in November–welcome to winter!
Frog and Toad came to breakfast!
Media Specialist Connie Sterling and Public Library Consultant Gail Nordstrom
Nancy Loewen shares stories about her books, including Minnesota Book Award Finalist The Last Day of Kindergarten.
More authors and illustrators…
Lois Walfrid Johnson, the author at my table, has a new series out called Viking Quest. She’s next to middle school teacher Mike Houck.
Books for sale from Bookcase of Wayzata
Blake School teacher librarian Paula Huddy shares Toni Buzzeo’s One Cool Friend as one of her 5×5 selections.
Artist Dave Geister shares his newest book, Surviving the Hindenburg.
David LaRochelle, game master, illustrator, and the author of Minnesota Book Award Finalist It’s a Tiger!
Trisha Speed Shaskan talks about Honestly, Red Riding Hood Was Rotten.
Marcia Thompson of St. Cloud State University and her husband, Merton (I hope I’m remembering that right)
Bonnie Houck, Minnesota State Reading Specialist, and Shannon Pennefeather, Managing Editor at Minnesota Historical Society Press discuss important events (or maybe the homonym game–not sure!).
Millions and millions of authors and illustrators!
Deborah Jo Larson and One Frozen Lake
225+ in the audience, all excited to talk about kidlit
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Wow! I wish I lived closer. This looks like and amazing event!
Thanks so much for sharing these photos. It looks like a great event. Bev Bauer of Redbery Books was planning to pick up my daughter who is currently living in Minneapolis and bring her to this event. I’m looking forward to talking with them to hear all about it. I was hoping Kaitlin could meet you!
I saw Bev very briefly, but nobody was with her. Would have been fun to meet your daughter!