Kelly Starling Lyons is coming to Middleton Public Library!

Photo from Midlibrary.org

The Middleton Public Library is so excited to announce that award winning children's author Kelly Starling Lyons will be visiting the library on Thursday, March 5th at 6pm to share a program called Write the Story Only You can Tell. 

In each of us, there are stories waiting to be told. In this session, Kelly shares her journey to publication and how her life informs the stories she creates. The audience will receive tips on mining their lives for ideas, using their senses to fill stories with meaningful detail and showing instead of telling. Readings and a Q&A are part of this inspiring program.

Kelly Starling Lyons is a founding member of The Brown Bookshelf, a teaching artist, and an award-winning author of more than 30 books for young readers. Among her acclaimed picture books are Caldecott Honor winner Going Down Home with Daddy, Christopher Award winner Tiara's Hat Parade, Anna Dewdney Read-Together Award winner, My Hands Tell a Story, and Bank Street Best Books selection, Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice & Sing Inspired Generations. Kelly is also the author of three popular series for young people - chapter books starring her characters Jada Jones and Miles Lewis, and the Ty's Travels early readers which won a Geisel Honor for Zip Zoom. She regularly presents to schools, libraries, festivals, and conferences around the country. Learn more at www.kellystarlinglyons.com.

Please join us for this special event!

Register to attend this event here.

Meet Christopher Roubique @ Oak Creek Public Library!

Photo provided by M. Dietrich

The Oak Creek Public Library will be hosting Wisconsin author Christopher Roubique for the launch of his debut middle grade book Mythspeaker, on Thursday, February 26^th at 6:30p.m.

 

Registration is highly recommended. https://events.getlocalhop.com/meet-oak-creek-author-christopher-roubique/event/Y7HaBFPDHf/

 

A little about the book….

 

Perfect for middle-grade readers ages 8-12 years, Mythspeaker will be published by Viking Books for Young Readers, a division of Penguin Random House. For fans of Race to the Sun and the Aru Shah series, this epic fantasy adventure inspired by Indigenous American mythology follows a band of misfit children who must pull off an impossible heist in order to save the world!

 

A little about the author….

 

Christopher Roubique grew up in rural Wisconsin and filled his time—and his heart—with the joys of fantasy and science fiction. His own books leap from those same joys, folding in his Cajun and Indigenous heritage, passion for mental health, and plenty of fantastical creatures. He lives in Oak Creek and has squeezed his wife and daughter beside all those stories in his heart too.

Raul the Third Meet and Greet for WI Librarians

From Kathering Schoofs, Youth Services Librarian/Assistant Director, Aram Public Library 

On behalf of Aram Public Library and Delavan-Darien School District, I am BEYOND THRILLED to invite you to join us for a very special event featuring celebrated author and illustrator, Raúl The Third!

Thanks to a generous grant, Raúl will be visiting Delavan on Thursday, July 11th and we want to extend an invitation for an exclusive library professionals meet and greet that morning at Aram Public Library, starting at 9am.  In addition to the presentation, refreshments will be provided AND there will be an opportunity to meet Raúl and have him sign a copy of one of his works.  (Books are available for preorder through the link below and will be provided by Reads On the River out of Waterford.)

Please register for the morning event here: https://forms.gle/KWmr1Q4VmysPqBov5

Additionally, we'll have a public event that evening at 6pm in the Delavan-Darien High School Auditorium - - so please spread the word!  I've attached the press release with information about the evening event, along with the promotional posters in both English and Spanish.  Even cooler?  Youth attending the event will receive a mini art kit, while supplies last!  Kits are generously provided by Delavan-Darien School District.  https://events.getlocalhop.com/raul-the-third-is-coming-to-delavan/event/uGeo35LSST/

Author Illustrator Visit Grant Opportunity

The ALSC Programs and Services Recognition Committee is now accepting applications for the 2024 Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award! This award was established with funding from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, in honor of Maureen Hayes, to bring together children and nationally recognized authors/illustrators by funding up to $4000 for an author/illustrator visit to a library. Applications and supporting materials, including an itemized budget and the required signature form, are due by April 19, 2024. 

Please visit: 

https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/profawards/hayesaward

Criteria

• Each application will be judged on the following:
  • Reasons for the application.  The applicant seeks to provide a visit from an author/illustrator who will speak to children who have not had the opportunity to hear a nationally known author/illustrator.  Reasons for applying could include: particular contribution; a special celebration, etc.
  • Facilities.  The appropriateness, both in terms of capacity and accessibility.
  • Administrative support.  The organization and administrative capabilities of the person or group submitting an application evident in the enclosed budget, and partially manifested in the presentation of the application itself.
  • Cooperation with other organizations.  The applicant must work cooperatively with other types of libraries (academic, public and school) and bookstores within the local community to provide the author/illustrator visit, thereby also providing a broader audience.  The applicant must present the library's educational goals, as well as evidence of how those goals apply to the local community's educational goals.  The extent to which meaningful cooperation among various local or area groups would suggest an ability to share responsibilities of personnel, time, and money needed to cover local expenses.
  • Author/Illustrator visit visibility.  Emphasis on the presentation as a distinctive event publicized to and open to all potential attendees in the area is a priority.

Requirements

• Applicants must:
  • Be personal members of ALSC as well as ALA; organizational members are not eligible
  • Act as host for the author/illustrator visit, the date to be arranged at the mutual convenience of the artist/illustrator and the host institution
  • The award covers only the honorarium and travel expense to and from the host city.  The host is responsible for making travel arrangements that are mutually agreed upon by the host and the author/illustrator, and for paying the up front travel costs. Maximum award is $4,000
  • Host institution must arrange to pay for any reception, dinner, or other hospitality honoring the speaker following the visit and to pay for all local lodging, means, etc. of the lecturer
  • Prepare and distribute publicity
  • If applicable, autographing and sale of books may be arranged with the publisher by the host institution.  Any other programs/events (other than those promoting the visit) must be arranged with the author/illustrator's publisher(s) or agent, and must be arranged with the author/illustrator's knowledge and permission, and must be funded separately

How to apply

The ALSC Programs and Services Recognition Committee is now reviewing applications for 2024!

Applications and supporting materials, including an itemized budget and the required signature form are due April 19, 2024. The recipient will be announced via press release.

Please do not fill out the application until you have all the necessary materials to complete your application.

• Application Form
• Signature Form
• Please see here for an example itemized budget.
• If you have questions about your application, please reach out to the co-chairs of the ALSC Program and Services Recognition committee, Maren Ostergard (ostergar@kcls.org) and Sarah French (sfrench@whitewater-wi.gov). 

Author Visit Grant Program - Apply!

The ALSC Programs and Services Recognition Committee is now accepting applications for the 2023 Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award! This award was established with funding from Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, in honor of Maureen Hayes, to bring together children and nationally recognized authors/illustrators by funding up to $4000 for an author/illustrator visit to a library. Applications and supporting materials, including an itemized budget and the required signature form, are due by April 28, 2023. Please visit: 

https://www.ala.org/alsc/awardsgrants/profawards/hayesaward

Sarah French (she/her) 

Programming & Makerspace Librarian 

Irvin L. Young Memorial (Whitewater) Library 

Just Wondering - Effective Ways to Host an Author Event

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay 

In this month's column by Manitowoc (WI) Public Library Youth Librarian Susie Menk , she is thinking about an upcoming large scale event and whether there are other tips on how to make the planning process smooth . And she's wondering....what do you think?

So….we are doing a bigger name author event this summer.  My team and I started planning back in January for this event to make sure we had plenty of time to organize and prepare. 

Ha! Ha! The joke’s on us!  We swiftly learned that planning an event of this size is a constant challenge to keep moving forward.  There are several suggestions I would make to others planning an event of this size.

One of the most important things we learned is to make sure expectations for each party are clearly established.  For instance, who is making the travel arrangements?  What exactly does travel arrangements include—airfare, hotel, meals, transportation?  How are expenses being taking care of?  Does the agency book the travel and then the sponsor reimburses?  How are payments made to the booking agency? Check? Electronic transfer?  Some of these methods can be problematic for libraries who deal with Friends or Foundation groups that don’t necessarily have the capability to submit electronic payments.

The second most important thing we learned is to make sure the agent and the author are communicating with one another.  We got to a week and a half out from the event and found out that the author and the agent were not on the same page.  The agent had given us rather strict protocols about masks and Covid-19 procedures saying the author required it. Later we found out that the author thought we had set these strict protocols.  

Lastly, it is important to get the venue nailed down early on.  Our library has a nice set of meeting rooms, but we didn’t think it would work for an author event of this size, so we reached out to a local venue.  We thought we were all set and then they pulled out so we were scrambling to find a new venue about two months before the event.  We had also partnered with a local school to do a writing workshop with the author for part of their summer school program.  They were happy to partner with us and all seemed well.  Then two weeks before the event, we got an email saying that they had to pull out.  We pivoted and decided to offer the workshop here at the library instead. 

We are super excited to host this author event and we have created quite the buzz about the event so we are hopeful that it will be a rousing success.  We have learned a great deal as we went through this process and we will be better prepared the next time we host an event of this nature. 

Does anyone else have experiences to share about hosting a large scale event?  Any tips or tricks or even funny stories you want to share?  We’d love to hear from you!

Virtual Author Visits 101

In a recent Teen Librarian Toolbox post, teen librarian Cindy Shutts, who writes their "Cindy Crushes Programming" column, invited sister system teen librarian Faith Healy to share her best tips for successful virtual author visits.

From introductions, preparations and involving the participants all the way to good questions and tech tips, this is a great guide to get you started. Read all about it here. 

Wisconsin Historical Society Resources, Ready and Waiting!

Have you explored all the amazing resources available through the Wisconsin Historical Society recently?

https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/

Not only do they have the amazing titles available from the Wisconsin Historical Society Press, but they also offer:

• author and expert visits/speaking engagements, including the following children's authors:
• Terese Allen
• Jerry Apps
• Pamela Cameron
• Kathleen Ernst
• Bob Kann
• downloadable educational resources
• historic images
• access to their immense collection
• information about special events and celebrations
• AND MORE!

Check the Speakers Bureau page for information on the authors and experts.  There's even a link if you'd like to book them for a program (either in person or virtual) for your library!

Mo' Money, Mo' Presenters

Longing for an author/illustrator visit, but you just can't seem to find the funds?

Applications are now open for ALSC's Maureen Hayes Author/Illustrator Award!  The winning institution will receive up to $4000 to help bring a nationally recognized author or illustrator to their library.

Applications and supporting materials must be submitted by November 15, 2018.

Interview with Bill Konigsberg, YSS Luncheon Speaker at WLA 2016

Submitted by Ashley Bieber, Teen Services Coordinator
L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Eau Claire, WI

YSS Past-Chair, Ashley Bieber, interviewed author Bill Konigsberg, in advance of his appearance as YSS luncheon speaker at this year's WLA conference. She also shared this link of his Banned Books Week 2016 Virtual Read Out! video on YouTube.

https://billkonigsberg.com/

So, Bill, you're coming to Wisconsin in a couple of weeks - have you ever been to Milwaukee?  

What do you expect to find?  And what are your feelings about cheese curds?

I have been to Milwaukee, yes. I used to travel as part of a softball team, and we went to several tournaments in Milwaukee in the 90s. I think of Milwaukee as a Pittsburgh kind of town--nice mix of blue and white collar people, diverse in lots of ways. I admit I have a weakness for midwesterners, so that helps, too... I married a South Dakotan. I think it's that repressed thing that some midwesterners have that I am attracted to. It's yin and yang, you know? I'm the kind of person who has never had a thought I didn't think I ought to express, so I guess midwesterners find me kind of ... amusing? I don't know. I love all things cheese, but I can't say that cheese curds are at the top of my list. I'll eat them, but they aren't my fave. But you melt pretty much any kind of cheese in a nice bowl of chili and I'm a very happy guy.

You must meet a lot of librarians across the country - do you have any impressions of us as a group?  (careful with this one, haha!)

Well that one is easy... I adore librarians. How can you not adore a group of people who are so devoted to books, who are so well read? It's hard not to find something to talk to with any librarian, because, unlike the general public, you can always fall back on, "So, read any good books lately?" They will most certainly have an answer! Joking aside, librarians are my heroes because I believe that young people who read are the solution, and librarians foster that love of reading.

Any tidbits about your books you'd like to share or why librarians should read and share them?

It's always a little awkward for me, that self-promotion thing, but hey, since you asked... For one, they're funny. None of them are "comic novels," but each of them seem to make people laugh a lot. I love laughter through tears, and there are lots of moments like that in my books. I think another thing about my books is that they are a unique combination of accessible and complex, fun and literary. Many readers write me to say that one of my books is their new favorite, and I think a lot of those notes come from kids who wandered onto my book and found it a surprisingly affecting experience that they didn't expect. It's like with Openly Straight and The Porcupine of Truth: you're going along with a fun read and you don't even notice that they've seeped their way into your heart and mind... That's the kind of book I like to read--something that seems like a fun read that winds up opening my heart to a new feeling or my mind to a new idea.

To see all the WLA conference posts:
Stellar School Age Services Preconference
Wednesday Conference Programs
Burr Worzalla Award Winner
Luncheon Speaker Bill Konigsburg
Thursday Youth Events
Konigsburg Book Discussion
Friday Youth Conference Programs
Social Events at WLA

REGISTER for the Kate DiCamillo May 13 Virtual Author Event and LIVE Webcast

You may be interested in registering for this FREE, live broadcast with Kate DiCamillo on Friday, May 13. Sign up now at: http://www.katedicamillolive.com/

From the registration website: 
Candlewick Press Presents
An exclusive live webcast with beloved children’s book author Kate DiCamillo, 2016 National Summer Reading Champion and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Emeritus
Broadcasting LIVE from Edgewood School in Woodridge, IL
Moderated by John Schumacher - http://mrschureads.blogspot.com/
Friday, May 13, 2016, 10:00-11:00 AM CDT

photo credit: www.minnpost.com

Join two-time Newbery award-winning author Kate DiCamillo as she discusses her newest release, Raymie Nightingale, a masterful, moving novel about an unforgettable summer friendship.

DiCamillo, in her role as National Summer Reading Champion, will also talk directly to students about the importance of summer reading and encourage signs ups at local public libraries for the 2016 program “On Your Mark, Get Set, Read!” You can learn more about summer reading and Kate’s advocacy for the Collaborative Summer Library Program (CSLP) at: http://www.cslpreads.org/nationalsummerreadingchampion/

Sign up now! We encourage you to set up an class assembly for this live event, so all of your kids, parents, and teachers will be able to watch and participate. To view the LIVE webcast, sites need just an internet connection and web browser.

Sponsored by: Candlewick Press, proud publisher of other DiCamillo favorites including Flora & Ulysses, The Tale of Despereaux, The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane, Because of Winn Dixie, and the Mercy Watson series

Author Visits

I apologize for the blury picture. I was so wrapped up in his discussion that I almost forgot to take pictures. Jerry is a teacher in our community and wrote a book that he wanted to use in his classroom to really bring ancient history alive for his students. He brought a great slide show presentation of the events and figures in history that have inspired his story and uses a lot of accurate historical detail in his story.

It amazes me when we have these authors in Wisconsin that are excited to talk in our libraries. It really inspires everyone that they too can be an author. I always get a little worried about programs like this because I'm never sure if anyone is going to come. But we had a great turn out. A ton of middle school students, their younger siblings and parents. And a handful of other hopeful authors. We gave flyers to the local writing group. I think that helped.

Don't hesitate to contact Jerry if you're interested in having him at your library. He didn't charge us anything. And please share other local authors who might be willing to talk about their books.

• http://www.athenasson.com/ 
• http://www.facebook.com/pages/Athenas-Son-by-Jeryl-Schoenbeck/264418043605577?ref=ts 
• http://www.amazon.com/Athenas-Son-Jeryl-Schoenbeck/dp/0615563120/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1341499448&sr=8-2&keywords=athena%27s+son

 

Waupaca Celebrates "Guys Read" with David Lubar

On January 31, 2012, young people’s author David Lubar skyped with an audience of 56 at the Waupaca Area Public Library. The “Dinner with David Lubar” spaghetti dinner was the culmination of our second annual GuysRead Month. As promotion for the event, the Library gave away 38 copies of his books. When participants arrived, they received a signed book plate (sticker) to insert into their free book. Lubar spoke for about 30 minutes—first talking about how he became a writer, and then reading a story that is going to be published in his next Weenies book. It was really fun to hear something that’s not available yet! Next, Lubar took questions for 45 minutes from the kids in the audience (and one parent!). It was exciting to hear the different questions, and to watch the interplay between author and reader. It was also great to see the bond form when Lubar revealed that he’s a video gamer. Many kids wanted to offer suggestions of games for him to try! Lubar also drew the door prize numbers from his home in Pennsylvania. I received an email from David after the event, thanking us for setting it up, and asking a follow-up question about one of our participants! Overall, it was a great event. 

This event was made possible by asking our Friends of the Library to be a co-sponsor. The Friends supplied 60 copies of four titles: My Rotten Life, Dunk, Hidden Talents, and The Battle of the Red Hot Pepper Weenies. The Student Library Advisory Group (SLAG) was another co-sponsor for the dinner. SLAG members volunteered at the event in a variety of jobs: ushers, table set-up, food preparation, wait staff, and clean-up. In addition to volunteering, SLAG contributed $150.00 towards Lubar’s speaking fee, and a Perplexus ball as a door prize. With the stellar help of a community volunteer who prepared the spaghetti at her home, we served a delicious dinner at the event. Staff handled purchasing of supplies, door prizes, coordination for the event, and promotions. Lubar was also interviewed by a reporter from the local newspaper and the article was published about two weeks prior to the event.

Doreen Cronin @ Franklin Public Library

The Franklin Public Library and Boswell Books is pleased to welcome Doreen Cronin, to the library on Thursday, March 15, 2012.

Doreen Cronin is the New York Times bestselling author of picture books such as Bounce, Wiggle, Rescue Bunnies, the Diary of...series, and Click, Clack, Moo: Cows that Type, a Caldecott Honor Book.  She also wrote The Trouble with Chickens, the first book in the J.J. Tully Mystery series. She will be highlighting her next book in that series, The Legend of Diamond Lil.

Come meet this award-winning author, purchase her book for a signing or bring your own!  Bring your camera!

All are welcome! No registration required


What: Doreen Cronin Author Visit & Book Signing
When: Thursday, March 15 from 6:30-7:30 pm
Where: Franklin Public Library, 9151  W Loomis Road, Franklin, WI 53132

For more information: Call Debbie Olguin at 414-425-8214 or debbie.olguin@mcfls.org.

Download a copy of the Franklin Flyer to display in your library!

Upcoming Guys Read Event at Waupaca PL Gets Some Ink

In a great article from the Waupaca area, a dinner and Skyped-in appearance by David Lubar as well as a month-long focus on "Guys Read" at Waupaca Public Library gets some excellent exposure.

I especially like how much they wrote about the importance of boys and reading and how libraries fill that need with great books.  Sue Abrahamson and Melissa Carollo gave great interviews.

Have you had a positive recent article boosting your WI youth library programs or services? Feel free to send me the link at marge@lacrosselibrary and we'll highlight it in the blog!  The more we spread the good news about our work and what we do, the better our services will be.

Sheboygan Children's Book Festival: October 14-16

Are you going to the Sheboygan Children's Book Festival this year?

If its not already on your calendar, perhaps it should be. They have a great line up of authors including:

• Candace Fleming
• Catherine Gilbert Murdoch
• Francisco X. Mora
• Henry Cole
• Jerry Pinkney
  
• Liz Garton Scanlon
• M.T. Anderson
• Stacey Williams-Ng
  and
  
• Tom Lichtenheld

For more information about the festival visit http://sheboyganchildrensbookfestival.org/.